Tall Spindle: Simplified Training and Pruning Plan

From the March 2007 article "A Tall Order: The tall spindle orchard system can help apple growers obtain early high yields, while maintaining fruit quality."

Simply Speaking

The chart below is a simplified pruning and training plan for the tall spindle apple production system.

First Leaf

• At Planting: Plant highly feathered trees (10-15 feathers) at a spacing of 3 to 4 feet by 11 to 12 feet. Adjust graft union to 6 inches above soil level. Remove all feathers below 24 inches using a flush cut. Do not head the leader or the feathers. Remove any feathers that are larger than two-thirds the diameter of the leader.
• Three- to four-inch growth: Rub off the second and third shoots below the new leader shoot to eliminate competitors to the leader shoot.
• May: Install a three- to four-wire tree support system that will allow the tree to be supported to 3 meters. Attach the trees to the support system with a permanent tree tie above the first tier of feathers, leaving a 2-inch diameter loop to allow for trunk growth.
• Early June: Tie down each feather that is longer than 10 inches to a pendant position below horizontal.

Second Leaf

• Dormant: Do not head leader or prune trees.
• 10 to 15 centimeter growth: Pinch the lateral shoots in the top fourth of last year’s leader growth, removing about 5 centimeters of growth (the terminal bud and four to five young leaves).
• Early June: Hand-thin the crop to single fruit four inches apart (you should target 15 to 20 fruit per tree).
• Mid June: Re-pinch all lateral shoots in the top fourth of last year’s growth. Tie the developing leader to the support system with a permanent tie.

Third Leaf

• Dormant: Do not head the leader. Remove overly vigorous limbs that are more than two-thirds the diameter of the leader using a bevel cut.
• Late May: Chemically thin according to crop load, tree strength, and weather conditions, then follow up with hand thinning to the appropriate levels to ensure regular annual cropping and adequate fruit size (target 50 to 60 fruit pre tree).
• June: Tie the developing leader to the support system with a permanent tie.
• August: Lightly summer prune to encourage good light penetration and fruit color.

Fourth Leaf

• Dormant: Do not head the leader. Remove overly vigorous limbs that are more than two-thirds the diameter of the leader using a bevel cut.
• Late May: Chemically thin and follow up with hand thinning to the appropriate levels to ensure regular annual cropping and adequate fruit size (target 100 fruit per tree).
• June: Tie the developing leader to the support system with a permanent tie at the top of the pole.
• August: Lightly summer prune to encourage good light penetration and fruit color.

Mature Tree Pruning (Fifth to Twentieth Leaf) - Dormant: Limit the tree height to 10 feet by cutting the leader back to a fruitful side branch. Annually, remove at least two limbs, including the lower tier scaffolds that are more than two-thirds the diameter of the leader using a bevel cut. Shorten the bottom-tier scaffolds where needed back to the side branch to facilitate movement of equipment and preserve fruit quality on the lower limbs. Remove any limbs larger than 1 inch diameter in the upper 2 feet of the tree.

• Late May: Chemically thin and follow up with hand thinning to the appropriate levels to ensure regular annual cropping and adequate fruit size (target 100 to 120 fruit per tree).
• August: Lightly summer prune to encourage light penetration and maintain pyramidal tree shape.

Information courtesy of New York State Agricultural Experiment Station