Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
creased height of the trees, however, complicates pest and disease manage-
ment and increases harvest costs. Except for height, the two systems are
very similar for cherries. For organic orchards, the lower tree height is better
for most growers.
Managinggrowth. Cherry trees can be grown without support posts or wires,
but because they need straight, uniform trunks and fruit crops develop early,
it is advisable to use supports. Wooden stakes or metal conduit stand along-
side each tree and support the young trunks, keeping them straight. The sup-
port posts can be driven into the ground or they may be supported by one
overhead wire 10 to 14 feet above the ground.
Growers often divide the canopy of spindle- and axis-trained trees into
two management zones: the lower fruiting zone and the upper fruiting zone.
The lower fruiting zone includes seven or eight branches between about 2
feet and 4.5 to 6 feet above the ground. Begin with a well-feathered tree that
has abundant lateral branches. Select the branches you intend to leave, dis-
tributing them evenly around the trunk and spacing them evenly along the
trunk within the lower fruiting zone. Prune off the unwanted branches, and
rub off unwanted shoots as they begin developing in the spring.
Horizontal branches are the key to the axis and spindle systems, but we
do not use trellis wires to tie the branches. Train the lower zone branches
horizontally or just above horizontal. You can tie larger branches down to
stakes that are driven into the ground between the trees, or tie weights to
the branches. For new shoots, use spring-type clothespins clamped around
the leader with the tails of the clothespins pressing the lateral shoots down
beginning when they are about 4 inches long. Leave the clothespins in place
for about 2 weeks.
As the shoots grow longer, they naturally turn up at the tips. To prevent
this, clip the clothespins to the ends of the developing branches and keep
moving the clothespins further out about every 10 days as the branches
grow. Add more weight, if necessary, to keep the branches flat in the lower
fruiting zone. The upper fruiting zone is formed similarly to the lower, but
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