How to prune canistel

After the main harvest (timing varies — typically winter to early spring). On young trees, select 3–4 well-spaced scaffold branches in the first two seasons and remove competing upright shoots. On mature trees, thin crossing or crowded laterals and cut water shoots to their point of origin. Apply wound sealant to cuts over 25 mm.

Annually; light formative pruning in years 1–3. Canistel (egg fruit) is a moderately vigorous tropical tree that benefits from light post-harvest pruning to control height and keep the canopy open. Remove deadwood and crossing branches annually. Train young trees to a low scaffold to make hand-harvesting easier. Canistel is slow to regenerate from heavy cuts, so avoid removing more than one-quarter of the canopy at once.

On young trees, select 3–4 well-spaced scaffold branches in the first two seasons and remove competing upright shoots. On mature trees, thin crossing or crowded laterals and cut water shoots to their point of origin. Apply wound sealant to cuts over 25 mm.