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How do you train your apple trees?

Posted by Gareth on February 27, 2010 at 9:07am in Groundscare
Taking on a new garden with some recently planted apple trees. All on MM106, about 10ft high, fairly strong growth, all a bit vertical.Question: stick to the old method of taking out the centre, training the main limbs into a goblet shape (so you can throw your hat or a dead pigeon through the middle).Or: keep the central leader and tie down the lower main limbs as horizontal as possible, training them to a pyramid/spindle bush shape. Better quality fruit, easier to harvest?Just wondering what different approaches people use when pruning/training fruit?Also, best method to manipulate angle of main branches when training shape?
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  • Gareth February 27, 2010 at 9:48am
    They are Egremont Russetts which have strong vertical growth, already the best fruiting wood is out of reach and they are on sloping ground – the customer wants them productive and easy to harvest (no ladders).

    colin said:
    are they needing to be manipulated?
    usually the weight of fruit naturally draws branches over.

    just take out growing tips at the required height and prune off annual growth leaving fruiting buds. then a gentle thin, remove growing shoots leaving fruiting buds, remove dead and rubbing branches each year should suffice.
  • Gareth February 27, 2010 at 10:16am
    I did suggest an apple picker - couldnt remember who did them though. Do you ever tie branches down, or use pegs for spreading branches?

    colin said:
    hmmm wrong variety for keeping low really suggest they buy a wolf garten apple catcher its a long pole with a little net on ideal for picking apples without having to climb

    Gareth Edwards said:
    They are Egremont Russetts which have strong vertical growth, already the best fruiting wood is out of reach and they are on sloping ground – the customer wants them productive and easy to harvest (no ladders).

    colin said:
    are they needing to be manipulated?
    usually the weight of fruit naturally draws branches over.

    just take out growing tips at the required height and prune off annual growth leaving fruiting buds. then a gentle thin, remove growing shoots leaving fruiting buds, remove dead and rubbing branches each year should suffice.
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