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Step over apples
JPC
Posts: 26
in Fruit & veg
I would like to grow step over apples on my new allotment but somewhat confused by any info relating to the spacings between the plants - being only 5 - 6ft which does not appear sufficient. I would like to hear from anyone who grow step overs and their planting distances. If you take a 6ft space and plant in the centre you would then only let the plant grow 3ft either side or if you plant at the end then presumably you would only grow from one side and let the apples grow to the end of the 6ft space allocated!!.
Any advice / experience gratefully received...many thanks..JPC
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Hi pansyface, did not expect such a quick response, many thanks for the info its brilliant....JPC
Hi pansyface, I did not expect such a quick response but many thanks the info posted is brilliant...JPC
I grow step overs.
I was taught that if you can lie down with your feet on one trunk (of one row) and your looking up thru the next row then they are far enough apart, and if you can to grow them north- south alignment that way they get sunlight on each side fairly equally.
The trunks can be however far apart you want, as long as they are supported well, I've seen them less than 6 feet apart (3 foot branches each side) to a massive 40 feet apart (20 foot branches). Just remember that you reduce the 'arms' by a third every year, so 20 feet will take a long time to fill.
That was taught to me by a gardener who was born in the 1890's!
Hi treehugger80,
Many thanks for your info it all helps, although I don't think I will be lying down for a while to measure distances as I would be carried off by the floods we have around York at present....Regards JPC
Hi treehugger80,
Many thanks for your info it all helps, although I don't think I will be lying down for a while to measure distances as I would be carried off by the floods we have around York at present....Regards JPC
I am also new to both stepovers and growing fruit trees generally and these comments may be a bit late. We are in the high hills of central Italy so I don't know how much difference it makes. I've planted my apple stepovers 3m apart - so branches of 1.5m each (roughly just over 4 ft) and they do seem to be a bit close. They were planted last March (early March) and by September the first row of laterals had already reached their allotted space. They were all on M9 stock - so a dwarfing variety. If starting again I would plant 5m apart.
Hi Delia / Pansyface, many thanks for your input, I have not yet decided on variety as we live in York, I am trying to find suitable types for our conditions in the north and if possible rarer varieties. Delia just as a matter of interest what varieties are you growing in your lovely situation in Italy....thanks to you both...JPC