Double pruning of raspberries according to Sobolev: how to form bushes, in stages

What gardener does not dream of a simple method that will increase the yield of raspberry bushes and bring the properties of any plant closer to a remontant variety? Pruning raspberries according to Sobolev allows you to lay a good foundation for fruiting berry bushes in two years.

The essence of the Sobolev method

Alexander Georgievich Sobolev is known as a test gardener, the founder of the technique of double pruning of raspberries. Thanks to its opening, even a small raspberry tree will be able to provide the owner with a bountiful harvest. Five bushes are enough for summer berries to be enough for a small family.

Interesting fact
The first publications of a successful method of pruning raspberries date back to the 1980s, and since then Sobolev's simple advice has not lost its relevance.

What is the essence of the method

Young raspberries are formed twice with an interval of one year. All procedures are carried out in the spring. Correct pruning ensures the growth of the bush, because of this, the number of flowers and ovaries increases. But not everything is so simple: Sobolev for several years tried to calculate the optimal ratio of first and second order shoots on a bush, as well as the neighborhood of raspberry bushes, the distance between them.

It is important

Sobolev's technique will not work if the gardener ignores other agrotechnical measures. Raspberry bushes need proper planting in a suitable area. They do not tolerate drafts, they need a little shading. Pay attention to the soil, predecessors and neighboring plants, water the bushes in moderation, be sure to apply fertilizers appropriate to the season.

Advice to the gardener
Experiment with any raspberry varieties that are not prone to overgrowth. Pruning primarily affects this part of the bush.

We disassemble the pruning scheme in stages

The formation of raspberries and other shrubs is carried out in order to increase yields and reduce the likelihood of crop diseases.

The Sobolev pruning scheme for raspberries is understandable even for beginners. Instructions:

1. It is better not to prune young bushes until they have grown stronger in the area and have begun to bear fruit.
2. The first stage of pruning is carried out on annual shoots in the spring, when they reach a height of 100 cm. Focus on the original characteristics of the variety: if the raspberry is undersized, then a height of 60-70 cm is enough to start forming.
3. First of all, cut off the top by 8-10 cm.
4. Left without a growth point, raspberries begin to build up green mass by other methods, namely, by forming lateral shoots. During the first summer, 5-6 lateral branches up to 50 cm long should appear on one stem.
5. The second stage of formation is the spring of next year (March-April, depending on the region). As soon as the leaves begin to appear, cut off the tops of all lateral shoots, now by 10-15 cm. Thus, the raspberries are stimulated for further branching.
6. The yield of raspberries increases significantly, since it is on the shoots of the second order that many ovaries are formed.

Growing raspberries by the Sobolev method turns into a sheer pleasure. The gardener is only required to find the optimal ratio of shoots so that the bush does not deplete.

Further actions only correct the raspberry tree:

1. Remove root shoots to avoid thickening, but do not confuse the shoots with replacement shoots. The first grows at a short distance from the mother bush, originating in horizontal roots, the second are located in the root collar of the bush. To cut unnecessary shoots, it is enough to walk along the raspberry tree with a shovel: the roots of the bush are shallow.Strong layering can be preserved by replanting at an optimal distance from the mother bush.
2. Raspberries require a lot of nutrients from the soil. The main task is to reduce the density of plantings so that the healthiest have enough nutrition. An interval of at least 2 m should be left between individual bushes. The rows in the raspberry bushes are spaced in 3 m increments. Do not be afraid to get rid of some of the plants, as this will significantly increase the yield in the end.
3. One bush should have 4, maximum 6 replacement shoots. So the bush will bear fruit twice as actively - checked by Sobolev. Cut off young shoots in the second spring, along with pruning side shoots for branching.
4. The grower should check the number of new shoots annually. Fruiting branches are not removed immediately, only the top is cut off from them. The next year, second-order shoots will still produce berries.

Advice
As the raspberry bush becomes very sprawling, tie it to a sturdy trellis or other support.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

There are pros and cons to any method of forming shrubs. Sobolev's technique has more advantages:

1. Yield increases markedly in most varieties.
2. The berries are arranged very tightly to each other, this simplifies manual harvesting.
3. The method does not require much effort on the part of the gardener.

Advice
For remontant varieties of raspberries, the Sobolev pruning method is suitable if they are grown as regular summer varieties with single fruiting. For varieties with fruiting annual shoots, the method is not suitable.

At the same time, the author himself recognized a serious disadvantage of his technique: double pruning stimulates the active growth of bushes, because of which the raspberry tree becomes too thickened.

What is the danger of this phenomenon:

1. Access of light and air to the depth of the raspberry tree is difficult. This increases the risk of disease and pest attacks.
2. The amount of root growth is increasing.
3. The method requires increased nutrition of the bushes, since they, due to the abundance of shoots, deplete the soil faster than ordinary raspberries.
4. Preparation for wintering is also difficult: you need to tie the overgrown branches, and then bend them to the ground.

It is important to understand that Sobolev developed his own pruning method only in one region of Russia (Kurgan region). If you exactly copy its scheme, the result will still be different. Success depends on the initial characteristics of the raspberry variety, climatic conditions, soil composition, etc.

Thus, the main task is to prevent excessive thickening of the raspberry tree. Otherwise, the Sobolev pruning method is simple and effective.