Pruning and Training - Growing Organic Orchard Fruits - page 657

duction throughout the trees. When pruning to develop outward-pointing
branches, avoid making bench cuts ( figure 12.1 ➔ ), if possible, because they
tend to weaken the scaffold limbs. Use spreaders, weights, and ties, rather
than pruning, to position branches. Figure 12.10 ➔ is similar to an open cen-
ter peach tree.
Perpendicular-V Training System
The perpendicular-V training system is adapted from the open center, vase-
shaped designs, but it uses only two scaffold limbs. The scaffold limbs are
oriented perpendicular to the crop rows. The design creates an open canopy
with good light penetration and air movement. It is relatively simple to con-
trol pests and diseases in this system. Although perpendicular-V trees yield
somewhat fewer fruits than trees trained in the quad-V, the perpendicular-
V system appears to be a better choice for high-density organic peach and
nectarine orchards because it maintains a more open canopy.