Forum home› Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

To prune or not to prune off?

BenTheBeginnerBenTheBeginner Posts: 66
in Fruit & veg

Should I prune the blue highlighted branch? And do I have too many main branches?

Thanks
«1

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It might help to tell us what it is because that will tell us whether it's purely ornamental or intended to produce fruit.   Hard to tell if that stem is touching the fence already or just headed that way. 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BenTheBeginnerBenTheBeginner Posts: 66
    Obelixx said:
    It might help to tell us what it is because that will tell us whether it's purely ornamental or intended to produce fruit.   Hard to tell if that stem is touching the fence already or just headed that way. 
    It's an apple tree, meant for production, no where near the fence, at least a meter away, sorry, thanks
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    OK.  I'm no expert on apples but I do know you generally need more than one as they usually need to be cross pollinated.

    Other than that I can just point you at this info from the RHS while you wait for some of the apple growers to come along - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=856 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BenTheBeginnerBenTheBeginner Posts: 66
    Obelixx said:
    OK.  I'm no expert on apples but I do know you generally need more than one as they usually need to be cross pollinated.

    Other than that I can just point you at this info from the RHS while you wait for some of the apple growers to come along - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=856 
    I have an apple tree on the other side of the garden, I checked with the garden centre and they said that's alright, thankyou for the link
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Hope it helps.  I'm planning to plant a couple myself next autumn but am still dithering between stepover and espalier forms or a natural tree shape.   Lots to think about isn't there?
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • BenTheBeginnerBenTheBeginner Posts: 66
    Obelixx said:
    Hope it helps.  I'm planning to plant a couple myself next autumn but am still dithering between stepover and espalier forms or a natural tree shape.   Lots to think about isn't there?
    I grow Cordon down my allotment, very space saving!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    This may help Ben
    https://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/article/the-ultimate-guide-to-fruit-trees-pruning-fruit-trees/#:~:text=Do%20not%20grow%20dwarf%20pyramids,is%20required%20at%20this%20time.

    1 metre from the fence isn't far. You may need additional pruning on that side.
    I'm certainly no pruning expert, but generally
    Prune in Winter to encourage growth
    Prune in Summer to restrict growth


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Good link.  Thanks @Pete.8
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • PlashingPlashing Posts: 328
    I think you would have been better if you had grown cordons trained on a wire, you would have got one more trees along the fence.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    You could train it as an espalier it's not too late.  Put  some wire horizontally horizontally behind it. Use some canes tie the branches to those , start at 45 degree angle and move them down gradually. Prune off the branches that are pointing back or too far forward. 
    AB Still learning

Sign In or Register to comment.