EXERCISE 10

EXERCISE 10: Training and pruning of pome (apple and pear) fruit trees

Objectives : To learn and practice different systems of training and pruning in apple and pear trees.

Materials : Secateure, pruning saw, branch spreader, Bordeaux paint or Chaubattia paste and ladder.

Procedure :
Training
  • Training is done to shape or build a strong framework of the trees in order to support maximum crop when plant reaches bearing stage.
  • There are several systems of training in apple especially for dwarf plantations like spindle bush, dwarf pyramid and cylinder spindle etc., but modified central leader system is most suitable for standard plantation.
Modified central leader system
  • Generally, one – year – old whip without a single branch is planted in the dormant season.
  • Immediately after transplanting the tip of plant is headed back 60 to 75 cm above the ground level.
10.1
  • In the following summer, most of the buds on main branch will sprout.
  • In order to develop clean stem up to 45 cm from the ground the sprouted buds are pinched off soon after their appearance.
  • Three or four well spaced buds projecting in opposite directions are retained with lowest one 45 cm above ground . If summer pruning is not done, then 3-4 well spaced primary branches having wider crotch angle are selected during dormant pruning.
  • The selected branches should be spaced 10-15 cm apart in spiral fashion. The branches emerging below 30 cm from ground level and other undesirable branches are pruned off.
  • The selected branches are headed back to ¼ of growth to a bud projecting to the outer direction.
  • The leader is also headed back to 30 cm above the last branch.
  • During the second dormant pruning, 2-3 well spaced primary branches are selected on the leader.
  • On the primary branches selected during previous year, two secondary branches which are growing outward direction should be selected.
  • The selected primary and secondary branches are headed back to 1/3 - ¼ of the growth.
  • The secondary and tertiary branches selected should be spreading horizontally and upright or down ward growing branches should be removed.
  • The third year training consists of thinning out of unwanted branches and heading back of desirable side branches.
  • The central leader should be headed back to a bud or weak shoot, which will develop in the form of a side branch.
  • By fourth year training should be completed.
Training of dwarf apple tree
  • With the introduction of clonal rootstocks and spur type cultivars of apple the tree trunk of the plants is short and head is close to the ground.
  • Various methods of training viz. spindle bush, dwarf pyramids, cordons, palmette and espalier have been developed in different countries of the world but Spindle bush system of training is commonly followed for apple in India.
Procedure:
  • One year old apple plants are cut back to a bud about 60 cm above the ground.
  • During the first summer 2 to 3 laterals or feathers 30 cm above from the base may be used to form the main scaffold branches such branches should be well spaced all around the stem.
  • If the growth is moderate to weak during the first summer, tying down of feathers/branches are not required.
  • If they are vigorous then can be tied in August when the growth has stopped. Tying is done by putting loops around the shoot and tightening the other end to pegs pushed into the ground.
  • For spreading since they are tender can be made by cloth pins at this stage. During first winter season, 2 to 3 well spaced laterals should be retained and unwanted branches arising on the main stem should be cut out.
  • The weak scaffold old branches may be cut back by 1/3 to 1/2of their length to a downward growing stem, whereas if healthy should be thinned out.
  • During the August of the second year when growth has stopped, strong growing laterals are tied down to form branches. In second winter season to check excessive vigour of the central leader, it may again to be cut back to the next suitably placed rather weaker growing lateral which is tied and trained again into take the place of the central leader.
  • Delaying pruning until late winter or early spring will also help check vigour.
  • During subsequent growth the branches are allowed to grow from the central leader at regular intervals, choosing wide angle shoots.
  • The higher placed branches must be kept shorter that the lower ones to allow sufficient light to reach the lower parts of the tree.

10.2
  • In order to keep sufficient wood in the spindle bush while it is being built up a small surplus of the wide angled branches is retained which may cut out as they require more space.
  • The main branches should be trained and spaced so that there is plenty of room for fruiting laterals.
Treatment of Wounds:
  • The cuts less than 2.5 cm in diameter heal themselves, but there is a danger of infection in the bigger cuts which should be covered with Bordeaux paste or Chaubatia paste.
Pruning of apple and pear tree
Pruning
  • The objective of pruning is to maintain a proper balance between vegetative growth and spur development.
  • The training is completed during initial 4-5 years after planting of plant, but pruning is continued after training throughout the life of tree.
  • In pruning, thinning out and heading back are two basic components. The pruning consists of thinning out of all upright laterals and those growing inside the trees and heading back of leaders and laterals.
  • In apple, the fruit in obtained not only spurs but also on fruit buds on young laterals. Therefore, pruning should be done in such a way that continuous supply of new, healthy shoots, spurs and branches are maintained.
  • While pruning, some part of tree is pruned and some left unpruned. The pruned parts produced shoot growth and unpruned parts will produce fruit buds.
  • The laterals which have left unpruned in one year, may be either shortened or left unpruned in the next year depending on the growth, spur formation and crop load.
  • Once the laterals have cropped and become weak, they must be severely shortened leaving them 5-6 cm long.
  • The severe shortening will promote the production of new growth from these stubs, which in two years will give a crop.
  • The whole cycle is accordingly repeated every year to ensure regular growth, spur formation and cropping.
  • At the time of pruning dead, diseased and broken branches are removed and on the cut surface Chaubattia or Bordeaux paste is applied to avoid any fungal infection.
  • The best time of pruning is during dormant season (December to January).

10.3
Last modified: Thursday, 5 April 2012, 10:19 AM