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Post by smallchunk on May 6, 2017 9:43:34 GMT -6
Am I safe to start pulling down branches or should I wait for it to get a bit warmer? I did one tree the last time I was down at the farm. I started doing this last year and can really see how much it helps. Not sure how guys do it after the trees get a ways above the 5 ft cages?! Weights?
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Post by Tooln on May 6, 2017 11:09:48 GMT -6
I've seen people do it with weights.
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Post by smsmith on May 6, 2017 11:35:03 GMT -6
Yep, you can train now. I've had some branches tied down for a couple weeks now. I use the cages as an anchor for tying. A guy can make some cheap weights for limbs by epoxying various size rocks to clothespins.
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Post by nhmountains on May 6, 2017 13:48:41 GMT -6
SC,
Any photos of your trees? Are they producing fruit spurs yet?
If your trees are ready to produce spurs and aren't then you can tie them down below horizontal starting around June 15 to July 15. This will help them produce the hormones to make spurs. Don't do that if they aren't ready though.
Some people take small sections of strapping and cut V notches in the ends to spread them to the proper angle. I usually use jute string and tie off to the lower section of the cage.
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Post by Catscratch on May 6, 2017 14:44:12 GMT -6
How do you know if they are ready to produce spurs?
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Post by nhmountains on May 6, 2017 15:16:29 GMT -6
How do you know if they are ready to produce spurs? I'd say if they're at least 4-5 years old. I'd go for 6-7 years though. Also they need to have a strong trunk and good crotch angles to handle fruit. Some trees will pop spurs on their own. Others won't. |
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Post by smallchunk on May 7, 2017 11:21:21 GMT -6
I'll snap a few when I go down there today and post them up. The couple that I am focusing on are 3-5 leaf trees. They are all loaded with blossoms right now, but I picked a lot of them off.
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Post by nhmountains on May 7, 2017 16:40:29 GMT -6
SC,
If it were me I'd clip all of the blossoms off that 3rd leaf tree. Let it grow another year. Making apples will set it back. I did a test with two wild seedlings on my land and now the one that fruited early is way behind the one that hasn't fruited.
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Post by smallchunk on May 9, 2017 20:25:20 GMT -6
I'm going to post up pics of some of my trees on a new land tour post soon. Check them out over there!
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