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labruscagrape - Re: [OFEX] Espalier

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Subject: Ontario Fruit Explorers

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  • From: "Joe Boles" <jo.bo@rogers.com>
  • To: "Ontario Fruit Explorers" <labruscagrape@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [OFEX] Espalier
  • Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2007 21:17:28 -0400

Biz:
 
The pear is 12 years old; maybe 13. The apples are about 8. I do not know what the rootstock is under the pear; the label from the nursery said Dwarf Bartlett. It appears to be more of a semi-dwarf which makes the rootstock more of a mystery. The apples are on dwarf rootstock. I use the Lorette system for pruning the pears and the modified Lorette system for apples. I switched to the modified Lorette system for apples a couple of years back as the Lorette system did not work that well for apples. I pruned the apples July 16th this year and I did not get that explosive growth of new shoots. I have found earlier pruning is one cause of explosive growth as well as moisture and fertilizer. This was a dry summer and I did not fertilize the fruit trees at all.
The pear harvest was normal and the apple harvest is at the best its been.
The pruning of the re-growth is a judgment call at the time of that pruning. At most it would be only one bud beyond the whorl, possibly back to the whorl or even one bud below the whorl, depending on what new buds are present. When the secondary branch gets too long I look for a good bud close to the main branch and prune back to it. What settles down the secondary growth the most is a lot of maturing fruit on the tree.
I've stayed away completely from tip bearers.
My apple trees are also 6 feet apart; I think 8 or 10 feet would be better.
The Ashmede's Kernel graft did not leaf out so yes a new scion would be appreciated and yes I would love to try the Niedswetskyana Crab.
If I have not answered all your questions or you have new ones please feel free to try me again.
 
   Joe
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Biz Storms
Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2007 9:44 AM
Subject: Re: [OFEX] Espalier

Hi Joe,

 

Thank you so much for the second photograph. It really helps to see the pictures.

Your apple espalier seems to be coming along nicely. If one was to compare the two in terms of growth, fruit production, etc, how old is the pear espalier in the previous photo versus the apple? Since I recall that you use the Lorette system for pruning, do you get much re-growth from the July to August pruning, and does it settle down once you get more tiers? We had what can be described as explosive growth on the pruned branches with just a few weeks. However, we are still working on the two lower tiers and allowing the leader and branches above the second tier to grow pretty much unchecked. ( I want all that energy for root growth and winter endurance. )

 

Do you prune back the re-growth to the original July pruning cut? Rub off the emerging growth before it gets going? Or, use the same Lorette technique on the new growth and prune two leaf buds above the whorl. ( Did I ask the question right? ) It seems that the final option makes for fairly long secondary branches, which eats up lots of space between trellis wires. Mine are spaced about 18 inches apart, so we could lose the visual lines of the trellis quite easily.

 

This leads to another detailed question – how do you handle tip bearers on a horizontal trellis system? Do you just stay away from them completely? Do you have any, and how to you prune them to avoid making that tier look rather droopy compared to the neighbouring tiers?

 

Just one final question – how long are the side branches on your trellis’d trees? The reason for the question is that we have our trees planted 6 feet apart, on a v-e-r-y long, continuous trellis. Once those branches hit 3 feet, they start to touch/overlap their buddies on either side. Is this an esthetic decision or are there fruit production issues? If we were starting again, I’d plant them 8 feet apart …

 

And to wrap up this espalier inquisition (!) – did the Ashmead’s Kernel graft successfully for you, or shall I put you down for scionwood this coming winter? Interested in Niedswetskyana Crab – which produces medium size fruit in an amazing dark red / almost black skin, with dark red flesh?

 

Cheers, Bizmark.




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