When to prune young jaboticaba?

[trianglegardens]

Just purchased my first Jaboticaba ‘Sabara’!

It’s in a 2-3 gallon pot and seems to be loving its new home.

Lots of new growth!!!

It does have a bit of lower growth and some smaller/inward/downward facing branches that could definitely be pruned up.

When do you recommend doing the initial prune on a Jaboticaba?

Also, how old do you think this tree is?

Photos attached below:

[roblack]

DON'T prune. Fruits develop on old growth, and jabos are slow growers. Only prune dead or sickly stuff when needed.

[trianglegardens]

DON'T prune. Fruits develop on old growth, and jabos are slow grower. Only prune dead or sickly stuff when needed.

Sounds good! Thank you.

[K-Rimes]

I have differing opinion, I guess. I generally prune them for shaping once they get to around 3 feet tall. I like to open up the canopy and widen the tree and make sure there will be no crossing wood long term. I have a very large sabara that I got from someone else, and there are two 1" thick branches that are going to be touching this year. I wish I'd been more on top of pruning it as soon as I got it. It feels too late now. Hoping they'll fuse together.

Here is the size and prune job on an install I did for a client.

[Julian R]

I have differing opinion, I guess. I generally prune them for shaping once they get to around 3 feet tall. I like to open up the canopy and widen the tree and make sure there will be no crossing wood long term. I have a very large sabara that I got from someone else, and there are two 1" thick branches that are going to be touching this year. I wish I'd been more on top of pruning it as soon as I got it. It feels too late now. Hoping they'll fuse together.

Here is the size and prune job on an install I did for a client.

I pretty much do the same thing, though I have been pruning my young trees in half gallon pots to promote a specific shape early on and I get rid of any suckers so it keeps energy going to the parts of the plant I want it to.

[K-Rimes]

I'm always picking away at my plants honestly, I love pruning and shaping them. I will generally start pruning them around the 5g size. I LOVE finding a totally untouched specimen like that jabo, which was in a 25g, and dressing it down like I did in the photo.

[Jaboticaba45]

I think pruning may delay fruit production, but in the end, pruned jabo trees produce more as a result of the sun hitting the caulis.
I'll only prune crossing branches for my rare ones as I want them to grow as fast as possible.
Sabara, I'll keep the lower branches clear so sun can hit the bark.

[trianglegardens]

I think pruning may delay fruit production, but in the end, pruned jabo trees produce more as a result of the sun hitting the caulis.
I'll only prune crossing branches for my rare ones as I want them to grow as fast as possible.
Sabara, I'll keep the lower branches clear so sun can hit the bark.

Ok so even with Sabara, should I only prune crossing branches if I want it to grow as fast as possible?

Or should I go ahead and clean up the lower and crossing branches now so it will open up the bark to more sun? 

I’m not sure how old this tree is, but it’s about 9-10 inches tall.

[Seanny]

Don’t prune this tree now.
Tree grows faster with more leaves.
Prune big branches in a few years so tree have nice tapering form.

[Jaboticaba45]

Yes,
give it several more years before you cut.