How to prune goji berry in spring? Detailed technical points

As spring temperatures rise, goji berry (Lycium barbarum) sprouts earlier than other plants. To keep it growing vigorously, with more flowers and fruit, higher yields and better quality, it is generally pruned in spring. So how should goji berry be pruned in spring? Let's take a look together below.

1. Thinning branches

First, prune away dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and thorny shoots, then thin out overly dense fruiting branches to improve airflow between the branches. When thinning fruiting branches, first cut away shaded branches, downward-facing branches and thin, weak branches, then cut away upward-facing branches and middle branches. If the branches are still fairly dense after pruning, some side branches can be trimmed appropriately. After pruning, keep the spacing between fruiting branches at 5-6 cm, and make sure they are all strong, well-filled fruiting branches with good fruiting capacity.

2. Pruning water sprouts

In spring, when temperature and moisture are suitable, the plant's branches are very prone to vigorous growth, leading to water sprouts, which consume large amounts of nutrients and affect sprouting. Pruning water sprouts also requires the right method. Generally, water sprouts growing downward from scaffold branches can serve as extension branches for the scaffold branches; when pruning, simply shorten them appropriately so the direction of branch extension stays stable. If there are no other branches near a water sprout, it can be appropriately shortened and trained into a fruiting branch, which can expand the canopy and increase the fruiting area. As for water sprouts with no value, cut them off at the base to avoid unnecessary nutrient consumption.

3. Renewing fruiting branch groups

Fruiting branch groups of goji berry generally bend and droop after two years of fruiting, causing a decline in fruiting capacity. In this case, they can be appropriately shortened, leaving 3-5 cm. After spring sprouting, choose a vigorous young bud with a reasonable direction, pinch off its tip, and train it into a new fruiting branch group. This maintains the plant's original fruiting capacity without causing excessive nutrient consumption, achieving two goals at once.

4. Renewing fruiting branches

As with fruiting branch groups, within the same fruiting branch group, because each fruiting branch grows differently, some fruiting branches can bear fruit for more than two consecutive years, while some can only bear fruit once, or bear fewer fruits. Generally, weaker fruiting branches are grayish-brown, and short branches are even more obvious. So in this case, shorten them in time to maintain yield, and cultivate new fruiting branches to avoid nutrient consumption.

The above is an introduction to spring pruning techniques for goji berry. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.