Pruning information by East-West Seed

Pruning

What is Pruning?

Trimming or cutting away dead parts of the plant or new shoots to encourage lateral branching.

Pruning Pruning is a standard practice in indoor crops where we want crops to go up. In the solanaceae we maintain 1 – 3 stems. In cucurbitaceae usually a single stem. It can also be applied in open field. In addition we also refer to pruning when removing leaves for increasing the ventilation in the crop.

Pruning results in: ● earlier production ● increase in fruit weight ● easier to work in when spaying or harvesting as well more ventilation which will reduce humidity related diseases. Leafpruning can start when the fourth cluster is setting.

Pruning

Leaves that turn yellow and dry out need to be removed as well.

Snapping, rather than cutting off leaves gives in general a better healing of the wound.

Do not remove foliage above the lowest cluster as it is needed for assimilation.

Pruning The best time to pick leaves is early morning, with dry weather, a few hours after the first irrigation. Leaves will break easily, avoiding big wounds and those wounds can dry quickly.

Never defoliate too much in one time to maintain the balance between the rootsystem and the evaporating surface.

Spray preventive after every leaf-pruning in humid conditions.

Pruning

Pruning

Pruning

Why is Pruning Important?

Pruning is important because it...

1. controls size of the plant, 2. avoids spread of disease, 3. encourages lateral branching, 4. improves size and quality of fruits, 5. makes management of crops becomes easy 6. improves light and air circulation within plant.

Steps in Watermelon Pruning

Pruning is done based on purpose for uniform length of branches/ vines and to get bigger fruits in watermelon

Cut the shoot tip after the 4-5 leaf

Leave 3 vines per plant

Removing the Diseased Parts of the Plant

Removing the Diseased Parts of the Plant

Pruning in Eggplant Removing leaves and branches before the first cluster of flower or fruits

Pruning Top pruning to grow branches. Cut the tops after the fourth or fifth bud

Pruning in Hot Pepper

Remove branches inside to ease monitoring and treatment

Keep 2 minor branch on 1st floor.

Then 2 for branches 4, 6, 8.

Reminders When Pruning

1. Use clean and sharp scissor 2. Bring collecting pail with you 3. Dispose pruned parts properly 4. Avoid pruning during wet condition