North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Don Yellman <dyellman@earthlink.net>]

Thomas Olenio wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I have an apple tree that has a trunk with a 1" diameter, three nicley
> placed laterals, and a central leader.
>
> The laterals have been tied down to improve the angle of the branches, and
> help in earlier fruiting.
>
> As I look at the laterals, each has 2-4 vigorous sprouts going straight
> up, about 4" long.
>
> I would like to know why I am waiting for late winter pruning to remove
> them?  Part of me thinks there is no reason to waste the trees energy on
> vigorous shoots that will be trimmed off.
>
> Would it be wiser to pinch them back (injure them) to make them less
> vigorous, while they are small shoots?  I understand that if I cut them
> off now, I will get a response of more vigorous shoots, but what about
> just stunting them?
>
> Thanks,
> Tom
>
> --
> Southwest Ontario
> Canada Hardiness Zone 6a
> (similar to US zone 5)
>
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Tom:

Prune those verticals off in mid to late August, after terminal buds 
have set.  There is a good chance you can convert them to fruiting 
spurs.  Rgds, Don Yellman