North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Hilborn.E@epamail.epa.gov]

This is a topic of great interest to me. Pruning/training is such an
art.

I have just planted a Magness whip grafted to quince (dwarfing)
rootstock.  It is branching out, and as soon as the branches start
firming up, I have trained them to have a wider crotch angle as most
tend to want to grow rather upright. I am letting everything leaf out
while maintaining a strong central leader.  I am seeking information to
train it correctly from the start.  This is my first free-standing dwarf
pome.

Questions:
- how low should the lowest branches be from the ground?
- I was planning to thin laterals next dormant season.  How far apart
should I prune the lateral branches (for example - every 4 inches along
the trunk, every 8, etc)?  Or do I leave them close spaced and as the
plant matures thin them along the trunk?  The tree is about 4 feet tall
now.
- should I remove the most vigorous branches as Alan has suggested for
plums?  In my experience, pears can really like to shoot straight up in
vigorous suckers - will this method limit that habit?.

Betsy Hilborn
7a NC