ISHS Acta Horticulturae 160: III International Symposium on Research and Development on Orchard and Plantation Systems
SPINDLE TREES WITHOUT STAKES |
| Author: | O. Callesen |
| Abstract:
Dwarf apple trees often need stakes as support to keep the trees upright. The cost of stakes is very significant in the total establishment costs of an orchard. Therefore growers are interested in growing the trees without stakes. In a 6-year experiment the possibility of growing dwarf spindle trees without support was tested with the cultivars Summerred, Spartan and Golden Delicious on M.26 or MM.106 rootstocks. Trees with stakes were shaped as slender spindles; trees without stakes were shaped as slightly moderated slender spindles. Yield and fruit quality were measured; there were no significant differences between trees grown with and without stakes. The trial shows that it is possible to get high yields in a dense planting without supporting the trees. Trees on M.26 and MM.106 are well anchored and there have not been problems with overturned trees. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
