when to prune gooseberries and redcurrant bushes

[gardenspirit]

I took advantage of the Aldi fruit bushes offer last year and my bushes, which are growing in large pots, have grown well, some main branches are 3 foot long, but I have had only one or two fruits off the gooseberies and redcurrants.would it be ok to cut these long branches by half to start shaping the bush. The tayberry I bought this year from Aldi(that came with two other bushes, a blackcurrant and raspberry) has given me some very large fruit and I am well pleased with it, but how do I prune this one and when ? I am keeping my fruit bushes in pots as I am waiting for an allotment. I have been waiting a year, so fingers crossed it shouldn't be too long before I hear some good news. Many thanks from an allotmenteer in waiting!

[clubroot]

hi gardenspirit this is what the rhs reccomend hope it helps Gooseberries and redcurrants
Training: both produce fruit buds on spurs from older wood and at the base of previous summer’s growth. They are trained to form a permanent branch framework, often as cordons, but usually as open-centred bushes on short stems, with 8-10 main branches.

Pruning: summer prune (mid-June/mid July), shortening current season’s growth back to 5 leaves except those needed to extend or form branches. In winter spur prune the same shoots, reducing to one to three buds from the base, and shorten branch leaders by one quarter (to a suitably positioned bud, keeping the centre of the bush open).

[Flummery]

As to the tayberry, you can cut out all the stems which bore fruit this year and train this year's shoots over whatever support you are using. We have ours against the fence and tied in to some trellis. The shoots growing now will give you next year's fruit.

[SimonCole]

To be honest, I wouldn't prune the tayberry till the dormant season because the leaves still act as food factories for the plant.

[Flummery]

Oh yes, we do it in the dead of winter!

[littleweed]

Oh yes, we do it in the dead of winter!

I can just see you both in the freezing cold battling the spikes! I wouldn't mind some cuttings tho' if you have any when you start the haircutting. It was the wrong time of year for me to get fruit bushes this year.

[Flummery]

I don't know if it comes from cuttings - I'll have a go though!