Re: [apple-crop] Planting density for Asian pears
I don’t have any experience with Asian pears, but I am planning to plant some high density pears in the future, and have given some thought to keeping them productive within their space. It seems to me that the trees are too tall already. A twelve foot row spacing limits tree height to nine feet if rows are north-south, and eight feet if rows are east-west to provide good light penetration. I have had very good luck bringing some Red Clapp pears down to almost half their size. Our best result was with: 1)Dormant pruning between snow melt and bud break. 2) Cut the trunk just above a limb. 3) Seal the cut with Tree-Kote or similar. 4) After one year bend all new growth over sharply with biodegradable twine. It might be worth experimenting on different rows whether summer pruning or limb bending will keep growth in check better. A wire trellis may be beneficial to have something to fasten limbs to in order to keep them below horizontal. It would seem that the Tall Spindle principle of removing any limb once it is too big for its space is going to have to be ruthlessly enforced on that spacing. Ernest Rollins 207-717-7057 Rollins Orchards 262 Dexter Rd Garland, Me 207-924-3504 www.rollinsorchards.com From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Weinzierl, Richard A Sent: Friday, August 01, 2014 10:13 AM To: Apple-crop discussion list Subject: [apple-crop] Planting density for Asian pears A new grower bought an Asian pear orchard that was planted a few years ago north of Peoria, IL. Except for pollenizers, it’s all ‘Shinko’, and apparently its resistance to fireblight is very good – I saw only one or two infections in hundreds of trees. They have planted trees at very high density (4 feet in-row by 12 feet between rows); the trees are at least 12 feet tall. Is anyone familiar high-density production of Asian pears? And if so, do you have any pruning recommendations? It’s obvious the density and prior pruning practices will not work together. The fact sheets and similar references that I’ve seen suggest much lower tree densities (218 to 242 trees per acre). Any general thoughts on managing the trees at high density … and what spacing would you recommend for the additional plantings they intend to make? Rick Weinzierl Professor and Extension Entomologist IL SARE PDP Coordinator Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois S-334 Turner Hall, 1102 S. Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 217-244-2126 _ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4716 / Virus Database: 3986/7950 - Release Date: 07/30/14 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Narrow Tall Spindle Layout
Matthew, To approach this strictly from a mathematical perspective: The rule of thumb is for row width to be 1.3 times the tree height for north/south oriented rows and 1.5 times the tree height for east/west oriented rows for sunlight penetration. If we start with “short” spindle trees being 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall for easy picking by the average customer and multiply by 1.3 we get 7.8 feet (2.37 meters), which translates into 93.6 inches for row spacing. If you allow 60 inches (1.5 meters) for your 54 inch tractor that leaves you with 33 inches for both trees to grow, or about 16 inches (40 Centimeters) for each tree to grow out from the trunk. This could bring you above 2000 trees/acre depending on scion vigor, rootstock vigor, and other factors that determine your in-row spacing. That takes care of the math. I don’t think I would plant them that close. You can add in more room for your tractor operator to wobble out of the row when looking behind if you wish. I might be concerned about spray burn and fruit russeting given the very close proximity of sprayer nozzles and fruit. You may also wish to observe if your spray coverage is adequate that close to the machine. Given the nozzle spacing on my sprayer the spray pattern does not offer complete coverage closer than a foot. Somebody must have experimented with rows very close. I am sure they will have input. Ernest Rollins Rollins Orchards 262 Dexter Rd Garland, Me 207-924-3504 www.rollinsorchards.com A Family Farm Since 1821 From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Matt Pellerin Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2014 3:56 PM To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net Subject: [apple-crop] Narrow Tall Spindle Layout I am a grower in central Maine that operates a pick-your-own orchard. I will be planting a tall spindle orchard next year. I would like to plant the rows as narrow as possible in combination with shorter trees so the customers can reach more of the fruit. My orchard tractor is 54" wide. How narrow can I plant my tall spindle orchard with this equipment? Also, what would be the appropriate tree height at the narrow row spacing? Thanks, -- Matthew Pellerin Agricultural Manager Treworgy Family Orchards 3876 Union St Levant, ME 04456 www.treworgyorchards.com 207-884-8354 _ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4592 / Virus Database: 3986/7761 - Release Date: 06/28/14 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Late summer drop and fruit size
Vincent, You did not mention the variety you are working with, and it may or may not be relevant. Some varieties adapt well to a multi-pick system where remaining fruit increases in size when the largest are harvested. I suppose drop is a type of harvest. Some variety/rootstock/location combinations seem determined to produce a certain size apple regardless of crop load, rainfall, pruning or thinning. Did you also note vegetative growth of the tree? Some trees for me seem to devote more energy to starting vegetative growth under light crop load and then continue the vegetative growth at the expense of fruit size. A tree that is heavily loaded early may choose not to sprout new shoots and devote all energy to crop. (similar to results of Apogee) Is it plausible that as the number of fruit increase the energy devoted to crop growth increases? Crop load may stress some varieties into a higher output mode. In my experience results from very late hand thinning are VERY variety specific. Ernest Rollins 207-717-7057 Rollins Orchards 262 Dexter Rd Garland, Maine 207-924-3504 www.rollinsorchards.com From: apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net [mailto:apple-crop-boun...@virtualorchard.net] On Behalf Of Vincent Philion Sent: Monday, January 13, 2014 12:12 PM To: Apple-Crop Subject: [apple-crop] Late summer drop and fruit size Hello, Im analyzing some data and I have seemingly contradictory results. Im hoping someone can comment and make sense of this: For a number of randomly selected trees, fruit drop was recorded starting late summer until harvest. For each tree, we recorded total fruit drop (and weight), harvested fruit (and weight) and the total (drop + harvest). As I was looking at the data, I noticed average harvested fruit size (weight/number) was related to Total fruits per tree Nothing strange, until I realized harvested fruit size INCREASED with Total fruit number on tree. As if the fruit dropping left more energy for the remaining fruits to grow? I was expecting harvested fruit size to be smaller on trees that had more total fruit, not the other way around. Im not sure this late natural fruit drop can be compared to very late hand thinning, but does anyone know if fruit size increase can be linked to late thinning (notwithstanding total yield that can go down)? Maybe this is normal? Any comment welcome! Vincent <http://www.irda.qc.ca/assets/client/img/logo.png> <http://www.irda.qc.ca/assets/client/img/logo.png> <http://www.irda.qc.ca/assets/client/img/logo.png> Vincent Philion,M.Sc. agr. Microbiologiste Phytopathologiste pomiculture Institut de recherche et de développement en agro-environnement Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment www.irda.qc.ca <http://www.irda.qc.ca/> Centre de recherche 335, Rang des Vingt-Cinq Est Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville (Québec) J3V 0G7 vincent.phil...@irda.qc.ca Bureau: 450 653-7368 poste 350 Cellulaire: 514-623-8275 Skype: VENTURIA Télécopie: 450 653-1927 Verger expérimental 330, Rang des vingt-cinq Est Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville (Québec) J3V 4P6 Téléphone et télécopieur : 450 653-8375 Local pesticide: 450-653-7608 Pour nous trouver, cliquer sur le lien: Laboratoire <https://plus.google.com/113874173074370918274/about?gl=CA&hl=fr-CA> Verger <https://www.google.ca/maps/preview#!q=verger+irda&data=!4m15!2m14!1m13!1s0x 4cc9016b3e604b3d:0x9e4816f2e6bea640!3m8!1m3!1d212357!2d-71.3416925!3d46.8563 685!3m2!1i1324!2i934!4f13.1!4m2!3d45.543389!4d-73.341551> Fiers héritiers du travail des frères Saint-Gabri : http://arboretum8gabrielis.wordpress.com <http://arboretum8gabrielis.wordpress.com/> Like most of the data I deal with, I'm best described as either "zero inflated Poisson", or "zero inflated negative binomial". Anything but "Normal". Un expert est une personne qui a fait toutes les erreurs qui peuvent être faites dans un domaine très étroit. ~ Niels Bohr C'est pas parce qu'ils sont nombreux à avoir tort qu'ils ont raison ~ Coluche To call in the statistician after the experiment is done may be no more than asking him to perform a post-mortem examination: he may be able to say what the experiment died of. ~ Sir Ronald Aylmer Fisher The plural of anecdote is not data. ~ Roger Brinner The combination of some data and an aching desire for an answer does not ensure that a reasonable answer can be extracted from a given body of data. ~ John Tukey Prediction is difficult, especially of the future. ~ Mark Twain (also attributed to Niels Bohr and Yogi Berra) There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics. ~ Mark Twain or Disraeli Without deviation from the norm, Progress is not possible. ~ Frank Zappa I
