High-Density Apple - Vigor

[Shale_Creek]

2024-12-27T05:00:00Z

We’re just beginning the steep learning curve of high-density apples and I have a few questions.

1. There are so many varieties to choose from and they all have various levels of vigor/precocity. Do any of you have a list, in some kind of ranking order of this trait?

2. Have any of you seen a table, by variety, showing it’s fruiting habit? (Whether on the leader, branch, or tip bearing) Does this even make sense for apples?

Thanks in advance
–David

[Phlogopite]

Estimated Tree Vigor For Apple Varieties from HOS

Estimated Tree Vigor For Apple Varieties (This is taken from the now-defunct Home Orchard Society website. If anyone knows the original author please let me know and I will add it.) Many factors enter into the equation to determine tree size: rootstock, soil fertility, growth habit, and vigor. HOS has printed much information on rootstocks and this is readily available. Soil fertility is a variable that must be taken into consideration, but each growth site is different. Growth habit deals wi…

[Shale_Creek]

Copied to my personal files !! Thanks. That’s a nice foundation.

[mroot]

Take a look at this post.

Mixing apple varieties in tall spindle system

Yes you can do it. I have a row of tall spindle apples and every cultivar/rootstock combination is different. My trees are 3-4 feet apart depending on tree vigor. I would take a look at this tree spacing calculator and use it to get a feel for how spacing varies depending on vigor and other variables. http://fruitadvisor.info/tfruit/clements/appletreespacing.htm For scion vigor of more obscure cultivars look at this list. Newer Geneva rootstocks are not listed in the calculator but you ca…

It has a tree spacing calculator for high density planting and also a chart in the calculator for the vigor of common scions and rootstocks. It was developed for use in Michigan but it should work for you if you allow for climate differences. It also has a tree vigor list for more obscure apple scions.

Here is a web page that explains fruiting types for apples and it has a downloadable pdf file that lists many apples and if they are spur or tip bearing.

Apple Fruiting Types

I would strongly advise you to make a test plot including scions and rootstocks you are thinking of using before committing to plant a large area. A lot of things can go wrong and there is a learning curve. It is better to plant four trees with the wrong scion or rootstock rather than 400, As an example you could plant 10 scions on three different rootstocks and do each combo in duplicate. This would give you 10 X 3 X 2= 60 trees.

[Shale_Creek]

We’re doing Bud-9 and Bud-10 right now (only 100 ft rows) and what the driver behind these questions was some of the vid’s I’ve been watching have been saying that seem utterly contradictory when it comes to training, spacing, and row widths. And not just from small-farm and backyard growers but Universities too.

I’m not converting the whole farm at the moment but I’m planning for the possibility for expanding each of the rows I am planting to run a good 5-800 ft if it makes sense for us. There’s not a lot of fruit growers here and the response we get for sales the past 5 years has picked us clean every time. In other words, there’s a good local market for fruit.

Future plans are to graft and sell trees from our farm as well.

[murky]

I was hoping this was about varieties that are heavy and/or hard like Pink Lady.