Hi folks,
I have two "Top Hat" blueberry bushes which I think are supposed to be dwarf - they are about 2 years old and so far I've had just a handful of berries. The thing is this year they've both sent up one tall vertical shoot right in the middle, making the bushes an odd shape. Should I leave these alone or prune them out?
Thanks for any help.
Im sure you'll get a sensible answer before I look in my book. I will check tomorrow as DH is sleeping and the bookshelf is right next to the bed ;)
it doesn't really matter if you leave it or not - this is common for blueberries to do this, all of mine have done it - I tend to prune it down to the same height as the rest of the bush but it isn't essential
Ah that's great, thanks - I was worried about losing fruiting potential next year so I'll leave them for now.
There is a good fact sheet available on the Royal Horticultural Society website - http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0801/blueberry_care.asp - which gives advice on cultivation and pruning.
For fruiting purposes you don't need to start pruning before the plant is 3 or 4 years old but it makes sense to shorten long whippy branches that spoil the shape and may induce problems with wind rock over the winter.
Good point Obbelix - I don't think the new growth is long enough to destabilise the plants this year but I'll bear that in mind in future. Thanks also for RHS link. Strong shoots from the base seem to be normal which is reassuring.
Star - you needn't wake the sleeping beauty now!
Thanks all.