Spring pruning methods for goji berry: prune properly for more fruit

1. Thinning branches. First, cut off dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, damaged branches, thorny branches and crossing branches, and then thin out overly dense fruiting branches. When thinning fruiting branches, first remove shaded branches, downward-facing branches and thin weak branches; then remove upward-facing branches and middle branches; if still dense, then thin the branches on both sides; after pruning, keep the distance between fruiting branches at 5-6 cm, and all should be plump, strong white branches with strong fruiting capacity.

2. Dealing with water sprouts. Water sprouts growing on the drooping parts of scaffold branches should be kept as extension branches of the scaffold branches and appropriately headed back to stabilize branch vigor and growth direction; if there is space around a water sprout, appropriately head it back and train it into a fruiting branch group to expand the canopy and increase fruiting area; water sprouts with no useful value should be cut off from the base. 3. Renewing and rejuvenating fruiting branch groups. After bearing fruit for 2 years, goji berry fruiting branch groups mostly bend and droop, and their fruiting capacity decreases. For such fruiting branch groups, head back leaving 3-5 cm; after sprouting in spring, select a suitable and robust bud with a good growth direction and position, and train it into a new fruiting branch group by pinching. 4. Renewing and cultivating fruiting branches. Goji berry fruiting branches differ in fruiting capacity depending on the variety; some can bear fruit for two consecutive seasons, while others can bear fruit for only one season, or only produce small and few fruits at the tips. Weak fruiting branches are characterized by grayish-brown branches and obvious very short branches. Such fruiting branches must be promptly headed back and renewed. Generally, cut from where the fruiting branch bends and droops; for thick ones, cut back 1/2; for weak ones, cut back 2/3; for overly weak ones, leave only 5-6 cm and cut back; when heading back, it is better to cut lightly than heavily.