North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Mark & Helen Angermayer" <hangermayer@isp.com>]

Had an opportunity to spend a few hours at a peach orchard last week.  For
me, it was almost heaven, albeit outside So. Indiana.

A question:  Like most peaches, the trees were pruned to an open center.
The owner shared it was a constant challenge to keep the centers open, yet
at the same time try to prevent the fruiting zone from moving farther and
farther out on the scaffolds.  I've experienced this same problem on my
oldest peach (currently going on fourth leaf).  On top of that peaches seem
to want to go vertical naturally, so why not train them to a central leader?
Dennis, as I recall you've started taking your peach orchard to a central
leader system because of canker.  Can you, or anyone else tell me of the
disadvantage?

Thanks,
Mark
Zone 5 Kansas-most stone fruits in full bloom