Key Points and Operation Methods of Goji Berry Pruning Techniques Explained

I. Pruning during the young stage

1. Trunk-establishing pruning: Before the seedlings sprout, cut off the sprouts below 40 cm (branching zone) on the main trunk base stem, and cut the top at a plant height of 60 cm to 70 cm.

2. Summer pruning: From late April to late July, at intervals of 15 days, cut off the sprouting shoots within the branching zone of the main trunk, and cut back the lateral branches retained on the branching zone at 20 cm to 25 cm to promote the sprouting of secondary fruiting branches; among the vigorous branches growing upward from the lateral branches, select and retain 2 to 3 branches growing in different directions from the main branch, and cut them at 30 cm to promote the development of fruiting branches.

3. Autumn pruning: From September to October, cut off the water sprouts that grow from the plant root crown, main trunk, and inner canopy. Over the next two years, gradually cultivate fruiting branch groups, and by the 4th year the framework is basically formed.

II. Pruning during the mature stage

1. Dormant-season pruning ① Cutting. Cut off useless water sprouts growing on the plant, root crown, main trunk, inner canopy, and canopy top, as well as diseased, pest-infested, and broken branches in the canopy, and excessively dense slender weak branches and old fruiting branches on fruiting branch groups. ② Heading back. Cut back the crossing branches in the middle and upper part of the tree canopy and the strong fruiting branches.

2. Summer pruning: After the first fruiting, cut off the water sprouts on the main trunk, root crown, inner canopy, and top of the tree canopy, and the excessively dense branch groups inside the canopy top. For the fruiting mother branches, cut back leaving 10 cm to 20 cm to promote branching and the bearing of autumn fruit.