One of the relevant tasks for the orchard during summer is pruning, since this period is a favorable instance to promote light or for the plants to “harvest” the light. During this post-harvest said light must come into canopy of the plant so that its physiological processes, primarily flower differentiation, have the correct performance.

It is considered that the flower induction begins approximately 70 days after full bloom, on its behalf, flower differentiation occurs around 110 – 140 DFFB, coinciding with the months of December, January and part of February, making it fundamental that the tree “harvest” light, since this is the most important factor in both processes aforementioned.

Carlos Tapia, Founder and Technical Director of Avium, referred to the relevance of summer pruning, highlighting the objectives that this pursues: “Summer pruning allows giving more light to the crown of the tree and controlling its vigor. It is essential to establish this pruning as general management in orchard production, in which once the fruit is harvested it must be carried out, especially in orchards with more vigor, a pruning procedure for important illumination.”

In regards to the times to carry out this relevant management at the orchard level, Tapia points out that it must be done as soon as possible after the harvest, however he makes an important warning.

“We acknowledge that very advanced summer pruning, mainly concentrated at the end of December and the first half of January, produce a reaction upon the vegetation, since a lot of the thick material may re-sprout in the season and these new sprouts are not desirable because they cannot be lignified before the winter”.

The question is: When is it recommendable to do the summer pruning?

“The safest period of material elimination is starting the second half of January to finish up, at the latest, by the second half of February, since that will allow the plants to take advantage of the light to carry out the right way the processes of the moment of the season”, indicated the specialist Consultant in cherry production” clarified Carlos Tapia.

Summer pruning also has effects upon the vigor control of the plants; if one needs to lower the height of these or thin them out, it is of great relevance to carry out this task in summer, since the potency reaction in vegetative terms is much less than if it were done in the winter.

“If we talk about dates, summer pruning should be started beginning on December 20 to 25, considering that it may re-sprout, and should finalize, for a powerful effect on the vigor control, before the March 15. This must be a yearly practice, above all in orchards with vigor excess or in those that need to be lowered in height”, concluded the specialist.

The specialist consultant Carlos Tapia indicates the following in cherry production, growers are in time to start summer pruning, a task that allows the plant to receive more light and this can be a contribution in the fertility processes, and furthermore, it will be beneficial to control vigor.

Summer pruning: Why is it such a relevant task?

Effective summer pruning, favoring illumination and vigor control is fundamental in the physiological processes that allow potential production assurance of the next season.

One of the relevant tasks for the orchard during the summer is pruning, since this is the favorable instance to promote sunlight or for the plants to “harvest” the light. During the post-harvest said light must come into the canopy of the plant so that its physiological processes, primarily flower differentiation, have the correct performance.

It is considered that the flower induction begins approximately 70 days after full bloom, on its behalf, flower differentiation occurs around 110 – 140 DFFB, coinciding with the months of December, January and part of February, making it fundamental that the tree “harvest” light, since this is the most important factor in both processes aforementioned. The light attraction and recuperation is fundamental for nutrition, in terms of bud formation and mineral nutrition.

Carlos Tapia, Founder and Technical Director of Avium, referred to the relevance of summer pruning, highlighting the objectives that this pursues: “Summer pruning allows giving more light to the crown of the tree and controlling its vigor. It is essential to establish this pruning as general management in orchard production, in which once the fruit is harvested it must be carried out, especially in orchards with more vigor, a pruning procedure for important illumination.”

In regards to the times to carry out this relevant management at the orchard level, Tapia points out that it must be done as soon as possible after the harvest, however he makes an important warning.

“We acknowledge that very advanced summer pruning, mainly concentrated at the end of December and the first half of January, produces a reaction upon the vegetation, since a lot of the thick material may re-sprout in the season and these new sprouts are not desirable because they cannot be lignified before the winter”.

The question is: When is it recommendable to do summer pruning?

“The safest period of material elimination is starting the second half of January to finish up, at the latest, by the second half of February, since that will allow the plants to take advantage of the light to carry out the right way the processes of the moment of the season”, indicated the specialist Consultant in cherry production” clarified Carlos Tapia.

Summer pruning also has effects upon plants’ vigor control; if one needs to lower the height of these or thin them out, it is of great relevance to carry out this task in summer, since the potency reaction in vegetative terms is much less than if it were done in the winter.

“If we talk about dates, summer pruning should be started beginning on December 20 to 25, considering that it may re-sprout, and should finalize, for a powerful effect on vigor control, before March 15. This must be a yearly practice, above all in orchards with vigor excess or in those that need to be lowered in height”, concluded the specialist.

The specialist consultant, Carlos Tapia, indicates the following in cherry production: growers are in time to start summer pruning, a task that allows the plant to receive more light and this can be a contribution in the fertility processes, and furthermore, it will be beneficial to control vigor.