Has anyone grown cordon apples at 45 degrees up the side of a fence?
I have a timber panel fence down one side of my garden (moved into the house last summer) and was thinking of planting a row of cordon apples at 45 degrees. The fence has good strong fence polls every 5 metre or so that are fixed in concrete and would make for good supports to trail wire etc from them. The max height i would go to would be about 2 metres. Is this height sufficient to get a good crop?
See the last few pages of the attached link from Adam Apples that suggest how to do it and it also shows a picture of apples trees at 2 years. This has inspired me to think of doing the same. I was just worries that I would require a greater height than 2 m metre.
Thomas
http://www.talatonplants.co.uk/AdamsApplesCatalogue.pdf
I don't think you are restricted to height, just what suites you best. 2m high would be equal to 2.5m at 45%(someone good at maths will probably work it out exacly :) ) and you can plant them every 2' so you could always plant two of the same tree to make up for height.
I'm growing my trees to about 6'-8' high and wine glass shape. They are 5' apart so should have a spread of approx 2'-2.5' each side, but i may make them smaller.
Neil
I think I would use the espalier rather than cordon 45°method I think it would be more natural.
Once your main branches/frame is established the laterals will grow vertically as they would on 45° branches.
Laterals prior to pruning
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Apples/05-New%20growth.JPG)
At 45° these laterals will have a tendancy to cross each other.
True you cut these laterals down in August/September to the basal cluster so it is no big deal them crossing over each other as this will be eliminated when you autumn prune!
Basal cluster (after pruning)
(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Apples/06-Basal%20cluster.JPG)
Initially I just allowed my trees to fan out then each autumn I cut them down to my desired height which is about 6-8 ft.
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/May%202009/1.jpg?t=1248692853)
There is some cultural notes here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Apples/Apples.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Apples/Apples.htm)
(click on pics to enlarge)
I'm a big fan of cordon apples and pears, and have them both at home and the allotment.
My home trees were planted to cover the only fence we had on the right side, standard 5' fence panels. Most of them are now 15 years old (I have added a couple of younger ones a few years back) planted as maiden whips and pruned to suit. Trees were from Deacons, some unusual varieties and they still crop well and are summer and winter pruned as Tee Gee describes.
At the allotment, I planted cheap apple and pear trees from Lidl in a criss crossed cordon to make a screen across the plot and use the minimum of space (apologies to those of you who have seen these photos before!) They are pruned in exactly the same way and I have had good crops off them from the second year after planting. The pears are going mad this year!
When first planted out....
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/dlp133/Plot%2098/May2007011.jpg)
Second year after planting....
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/dlp133/Plot%2098/hols08014-1.jpg)
Close up of the crop in 2008....
(http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l47/dlp133/Plot%2098/October2008094.jpg)
Deb P,
Do you have any pictures of your home trees?
Did you plant them as up-right cordons or at 45 degrees?
Thanks,
Thomas
i thought I had pics of my home trees but can't find them! They were planted at a higher angle than 45 degrees initially for about 3 years until they reached the top of the first wire, to let them get well established. I then dropped them down further and have kept them atthe top of the fence height. I'll have to take some more pics of them if I can't locate the old ones! They might need scanning in..... ::)
Deb P,
Thanks, it would be interested in seeing the pics if you have them...if not, do not worry.
hi Deb
Do you put grease bands on your cordon fruit trees and if you do what time of year do you apply them?
Duke :)
I confess I don't on the cordons, mine don't seem to suffer from codling moth so I don't bother! :)
I do use them on the very old standard pear trees on my allotment, I put them on in winter and top them up regularly with more grease as they seem to lose their effectiveness after a while.