Young wisteria - to prune or not to prune?

[ArtichokeAardvark]

I planted a wisteria last autumn (yes, wrong time of year but didn't have another option) to grow up our new pergola. I tied it in but haven't pruned it. It didn't flower at all this year which I know isn't unusual and is now putting on lots of new leafy growth. My question is whether I should prune it this summer, or do I let it keep growing to cover more of the structure? I'd love some flowers next spring, but probably more important to get the coverage. Picture of it below - I'm winding the long whippy shoots around the post for now and have one shoot that has reached the top and I'm training along the wire.

(It's planted in the ground before anyone asks- deep hole under the patio which is why I had to plant when I did!)

It's too early, you need to wait until July-August (and then Jan-Feb). They're very very specific about when and how to be pruned! Follow the RHS advice https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/wisteria/pruning-guide

If it's a young plant and you didn't see it flower in the shop, it may need to mature and grow for a few more years before it flowers.

I moved into a house with an existing wisteria a few years ago, finally realised I should Follow The Rules last summer, and got the first decent amount of flowers in years this spring. It pays off!

Thanks for responding - I've read that RHS guide several times over. My question isn't when to prune, it's whether to prune it at all if I want it to cover the structure fast. But do I then give up hope of flowers for a few years...?

Yes, the sooner you start training it the better control you will have. The long term plan with a wisteria is to have some shoots that are permanent and get quite woody and thick; out of this will grow the whippy shoots that become flowers then sprint off and make their bid to cover the whole of your street. Pick the ones you want for long term structure and just put/support those where you want them, and the ones you don’t want long term are the ones you prune back. Definitely Follow The Rules.

(I speak from bitter, expensive experience).