Cripps Pink on MM106 pruning trial in the Goulburn Valley

June 2013 | Fruit Growers Victoria Ltd | Future Orchards® trial report

This Goulburn Valley trial examined the timing of pruning in Cripps Pink trees on MM106 rootstock. Treatments included an unpruned control and pruning at a series of dates from early spring into December, allowing the project to compare how timing affected shoot number and shoot growth.

The interim results showed measurable differences in vegetative response between treatments. The report notes that the later pruning treatments appeared more positive observationally, while also making clear that additional seasons and a winter-pruned comparison were needed before firm conclusions could be drawn.

The next stage of the trial was planned to include harvest measurements such as fruit size, fruit number and fruit colour from selected trees. That broader data set is important because vigour control is only valuable if it also supports marketable yield and fruit quality.

The report is a useful example of the trade-off involved in pruning vigorous Cripps Pink on a semi-vigorous rootstock: timing can change vegetative response, but pruning decisions should ultimately be judged against crop performance as well as shoot growth.