ABSTRACT
The object of pruning the blueberry plantation is to consistently produce good yields of high-quality fruit. Regular pruning helps control plant growth and allows more sunlight to penetrate the plant canopy, increasing photosynthesis and flower bud formation. Spray coverage and air circulation within the plant’s canopy are improved, decreasing the incidence of disease and improving fruit quality. Pruning removes some flower buds, decreasing the tendency to overbear and potentially increasing fruit size, particularly during drought conditions. Because the blueberry produces several times the number of flowers required for a good crop, removal of some buds during pruning can increase the quality of fruit set on the remaining buds and also concentrate fruit ripening (Mainland 1989b). It also reduces stress on plants during dry conditions. Fur ther, a heavy crop load can bend canes to the ground, resulting in picking difficulties and dirty berries. This is most likely to occur on cultivars such as ‘Harrison’ and ‘Bluecrop’ that have a spreading growth habit. Lastly, the process removes dead, injured, and unpro ductive old wood, making harvesting easier.
