Hi hostafan, thanks for the reply. What would be the reason for not sticking to daves advice? Seems the two conflict, but being a complete novice I don't know the right route to take
Hosta is partially right(no offence hosta), if you start to train the three stems you'll end up with three growing points. Apical dominance will mean the two extra stems will then be the main growing points whereas you really need to encourage the main growing point from the original stem first. You don't prune the main stem at all, leave it alone as when the two other stems are taken out the main stem will take over. When you get the new growth next spring then train to the horizontal although in my experience all you need to provide is the framework and the wisteria will almost do it by itself.
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Should I cut the main stem below the strangulation point? Would that help or hinder things after I remove the two other stems?
Thanks again!
I'd start to train it.
Take the long stems and form a climbing S shape .
Take one along from left to right, then up onto next one, go right to left and repeat.
You'll find new shoots breaking along the horizontal shoots and these will start to produce flower buds.
All the time it's just going upwards, it's unlikely to flower well
Google " apical dominance"
IMHO if you leave one main shoot, that's all you'll ever have. They rarely produce side shoots from vertical stems due to " apical dominance"
I've allowed a main stem to grow vertically for a season , then do the whole side to side training with it while it's still supple.
I agree totally about establishing if some of these shoots are suckers from below the graft union and removing them if they are.
Hosta is partially right(no offence hosta), if you start to train the three stems you'll end up with three growing points. Apical dominance will mean the two extra stems will then be the main growing points whereas you really need to encourage the main growing point from the original stem first. You don't prune the main stem at all, leave it alone as when the two other stems are taken out the main stem will take over. When you get the new growth next spring then train to the horizontal although in my experience all you need to provide is the framework and the wisteria will almost do it by itself.
Dave, we'll agree to disagree.
Tails, the choice is yours.
No probs hosta