Early Training for an Apple Espalier. 3.12.2021

 This is the Honeycrisp™ tree that my helper planted for me recently.  It was nice being able to compare the trees at the nursery (Tsugawa), so that I could find one to Espalier, with two potential lowest tier branches, two mid tier and one center to grow the third tier.  Or graft with something else.  This was the closest I could find in the semidwarf size, which I wanted to compensate for the lower vigor I think Honeycrisp™ has.

I used heavy, 7 foot (above ground) steel fence posts. Those are re-used from prior tree protection fences.  In a future year, if they turn out to not be sturdy enough, I can put in something sturdier.  Or brace against the deer fence.  A few days ago I tied bamboo, 9 foot lengths, for the horizontal parts of the trellis.  If I decide later to add a 4th tier, I will figure that out then.  The bamboo is harvested from my yard, Phyllostachys but I don't know the species.  They were sold 20 years ago as "Timber bamboo" but so are a variety of species.  This one grows about 25 feet tall, poles up to about 2 1/2 inches diameter.  Not "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" size.  More like "Crouching Chicken, Hidden Squirrel.   but it makes nice garden size bamboo poles, strong and durable.  I measured 9 foot lengths, so each arm of the tiers could be about 4 1/2 feet long.  If they get one apple about every 5 inches, that will be roughly 20 apples (max) per tier, 40 for two tiers, which is plenty for an apple that won't keep more than about a month in my pantry.  I may graft something else for the 3rd and potential 4th tiers.

Some of the branches were at about their limit for maturity, for bending to where I wanted them without breaking.  It takes a firm yet sensitive hand although my clumsy hands worked OK this time.  I tie the part proximal to the central trunk, before tying the more distal aspects.  The branches don't extend to the ends of the poles.  I will let the end buds grow to their maximum this year, which I hope will be 2 or three feet, then bend those down to complete the tiers.

Horizontal branches are more likely to bloom and bear fruit, compared to verticals.   Plus, they are amenable to summer pruning and puttering, for my senior accessible garden and puttering meditation refuge.  Summer pruning is ideal for maximizing apple production in a small space, as inspired by the in the early 20th century French pomologist, Louis Lorette.   The English translation of his book is copyright 1925.  The Lorette System of Pruning.

From the linked reference:
-Winter prune only for major framework.- Prune mid June when new shoots are nearly mature.
 -Wait until branches are pencil thickness to prune them.  Then leave the basil leaf tuft and cut two buds beyond that.  Those will become fruit spurs.
-In later growing seasons, every month remove any branches that are pencil thickness.

The Espalier that is furthest along is the Redlove™ Era™, this year in its third leaf.  So far, so good.

 

 

New Apple Tree. 03.08.2021

 Last year I accidentally bought two Redlove™ Odysso™ apple trees, because I am a space cadet.   One has found a new home, so there is a space there for a different tree.  Even though I have something else for that spot, I've been thinking about adding a Honeycrisp to train as Espalier.  Today we made a trip to Tsugawa Nursery (wearing masks, although it was outside), and I sorted through all of their Honeycrisp trees.  They had some on the highly dwarfing MM27 rootstock, but I think that is too dwarfing for Honeycrisp, having done it before (although M27, not MM27).  They also had some on a "semidwarf" rootstock, not labeled.  I opted for that.  I think that will work out OK, given that in my hands Honeycrisp is low vigor and I will be training the branches horizontally and summer pruning for Espalier.  I looked through the trees and found one that I think is a reasonable subject for Espalier.  

That's the big tree on the left.  Since no trip to Tsugawa can be made without getting more, there is a camellia, two Japanese maples for my helper, a hardy fuschia, and some pansies in the group.  Plus Tsugawa gives a Veteran's discount, so I want to support them.  My helper will plant the Honeycrisp in a day or two, when there is a chance to bare-root it, then I can do preliminary Espalier training.

Training and Trellis for Apple Espalier. 3.5.2021

Yesterday  I  did some training of apple espaliers.  I'm using the espalier form around the perimeter of the fenced garden, for efficient use of premium deer-protected space, and to grow apples without need for ladders or excessive reaching overhead.  It will take a few years for these to reach their potential.  The Redlove™ Odysso™ and Redlove™ Calypso™ are one year old, the Redlove™ Era™ is two years old, and the Zestar™ is one year old.

I like that I can use the home grown timber bamboo for the horizontal aspect of the trellis.  The vertical posts are just fenceposts, and not as stable as I want.  Those will need replacing at some point, but I'm not up to it right now.

The tiers will need more growth at the ends, to fully utilize the horizontal trellises.  I thing I can let the tops grow and bend/tie them as they lengthen.  Also, two trees need another branch for the lower tiers, so I have small branches that I'm leaving in place and hope they lengthen this summer for bending over later.

These may benefit from more nitrogen fertilizer than I gave them last year, which was minimal or none.  I'd like to have the tiers more fully developed by the end of the year. 

These are situated perfectly for the summer pruning that espalier trees require.  I can putter around in the vegetable and fruit garden at the same time.

 Redlove™ Era™

Redlove™ Calypso™