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Supercolumn Fruit Tree Pruning?

ret.phone2017zgLXSR28ret.phone2017zgLXSR28 Posts: 2
edited June 2023 in Fruit & veg
I have purchased some Supercolumn Fruit Trees from Chris Bowers and I am confused about the pruning.

On their website it states that the growth of at least 9 to 12 inches should be cut back to 4 to 5 inches at above a bud from June onwards. The leader should be reduced by a few inches at late summer in the first 4 to 5 years. 

I am confused, since the trunk was cut at 45 degrees on delivery, so will a leader appear from this trunk?

What I have done is cut back the second highest side shoot to 4 to 5 inches, but left this highest one (see photos). Is this correct?

I am confused, since thought the tree grew as a straight column and this resultant tree is no longer straight?

The resultant tree appears it will start growing at a 45 degrees angle and not upright! 

Thanks, Richard. 

Posts

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    The reason the lead growth is cut at an angle is so that water / rain does not lay on it and rot it . The new growth will be straight I assure you . If it is at a slight angle ( it won’t be ) just put a training stick in and tie it to it until it’s doing what you want it to .
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    Also why would you leave one long and cut one short? I don’t understand your logic here . Maybe I’m thick but if you want it in a column then it should be the same both sides surely ? Or am I misunderstanding? 
  • ret.phone2017zgLXSR28ret.phone2017zgLXSR28 Posts: 2
    bcpathome said:
    Also why would you leave one long and cut one short? I don’t understand your logic here . Maybe I’m thick but if you want it in a column then it should be the same both sides surely ? Or am I misunderstanding? 
    Because I want to grow the tree to be taller in a column form. They can grow up to 3 metres tall. It needs a leader to grow taller. I am assuming the top one becomes the vertical leader? 

    They are pruned to be only a couple feet wide, hence the reduction from 9 inches to 4 to 5 inches. 
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    I thought ,and it seems correct to me ,that the tree gains it’s height from the trunk ,just like any other tree does,and the side shoots would be cut to match each other on the sides . I don’t see how else it could become column like . 
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