[NAFEX] Bending branches to induce early fruiting
Thomas Olenio
tolenio at sentex.net
Sat Apr 2 13:26:16 EST 2005
Hi,
You can buy plastic Easter eggs that pop open cheap this time of year.
They will make great molds for tree weights that could be re-used. The
result is fine round surfaces that are more eye appealing.
Just paint the weights green and who would notice them?
Tom
On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 11:57:10 -0500, Joe Hecksel <jhecksel at voyager.net>
wrote:
> Hello all:
>
> Most of you are familiar with the technique of bending vertical branches
> to a more horizontal position to induce earlier/more fruiting. Many
> mechanisms have been proposed (C/N ratio, hormonal changes). The simple
> fact remains that it is one of the most effective ways to "tip" a tree
> into fruiting mode. It can also make a young, shy bearer a star because
> you can double the amount of light the canopy harvests.
>
> Pears seem to be the one kind of fruit that most benefits from branch
> spreading. I am heavily weighted toward pears because they produce
> acceptable fruit with minimal inputs. Also, I can find many "takers"
> for the fruit when I become overwhelmed. Try getting rid of 200 pounds
> of persimmons someday. Tough to do, at least in semi-rural Michigan.
>
> The rub is in the mechanics of bending the branches.
> -Twine and tying them down is very effective but slow and tedious
> -Propping branches with >----< sticks or <======> sticks scar the bark
> and can/maybe make the tree more vulnerable to fire blight. This is a
> big deal with pears.
> -Tree weights are an option but you have to make your own.
>
> So, there I was filling a hole in the foundation that my wife was sure
> was the source of several recent ROUS sightings. Being a man who is
> basically lazy by nature, I made sure to mix a vast-over sufficiency of
> mortar. Being a man of curiosity, I experimented with the extra.
>
> Very good branch-bending weights can be fabricated with mortar mix, foam
> egg cartons and 17 gauge, ungalvanized wire.
>
> 14 gauge wire is too stiff.
> 19 gauge wire is too wimpy
> Galvanized wire lasts too long and runs the risk of girdling the branch
> as the branch grows.
>
> Tear the top off of the egg carton and discard. Mix mortar to standard
> "buttery" consistancy. Fill the bottom of the egg carton with mortar
> mix until it is level with dividers. Slight overfilling is not a
> problem as they can be easily broken apart. Smooth top of filled
> carton.
>
> The wire should be cut to 6"-to-8" (150mm-to-200mm) lengths and have a
> squiggle bent into the end that is to be inserted into the mortar. A
> squiggle that looks like a hook and then is then bent to be in a plane
> perpendicular to the axis of the wire will stand up on its own and looks
> nice. Insert a length of wire into mortar of each depression.
>
> Wash hands. Mortar mix can be very caustic and is always drying.
>
> Allow mortar to harden.
>
> Carry your twelve packs of branch weights to the orchard. Break apart
> and install on branches to achieve desired branch orientation. More
> than one weight can be installed on long/heavy branches. Do not twist
> wires tightly to branch....lest they gridle the branch.
>
> Some people aesthetically oriented people find the weights to be
> unsightly. The weights are less ugly if you peel off the styrofoam egg
> carton. Also, those people can usually be won over by giving them some
> perfectly ripe pears. Life is much better when the lady who drives the
> school bus thinks you are both clever and generous rather than
> eccentric. Your kids will like you better, too.
>
> -Joe
>
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