Jack Wilson
May 2025
Pruning, the first cut to next years success.
I like to think of pruning as the first and arguably the most important step to setting our croploads for the following season. It is a critical part of the entire production process. Objectives need to be clearly defined and communicated to the pruning team. Historical performance data is a good starting point. Past performance needs to be carefully analysed on a block by block and variety basis to determine what pruning needs to be done.
Canopy volume, tree vigour and crop load balance drives yield and quality. High yield performance comes from a full, consistent canopy volume, with low vigour but adequate early leaf area to drive fruit size. High fruit quality is generally associated with calm canopies and good light levels throughout the canopy.
Vigour o many Hawke’s Bay orchards is far too high. Once full canopy is achieved, only 20-30cm length of annual shoot growth is required. Many orchards are giving shoot lengths of 50cm and more. This represents wasted potential in terms of yield and quality. Looking at the previous year’s growth behaviour will give you indication on this years objectives as well as the response to last years pruning techniques.
