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PNW 667 CHERRY training systems L. Long, G. Lang, S. Musacchi, M. Whiting A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY n WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY n UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO in cooperation with MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CHERRY training systems Contents Understanding the Natural Tree....................................................................................................................................................... 3 Training System Options.......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Rootstock Options.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Pruning and Training Techniques.....................................................................................................................................................5 Kym Green Bush............................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Spanish Bush.....................................................................................................................................................................................................18 Steep Leader......................................................................................................................................................................................................25 Super Slender Axe........................................................................................................................................................................................35 Tall Spindle Axe...............................................................................................................................................................................................43 Upright Fruiting Offshoots..................................................................................................................................................................50 Vogel Central Leader.................................................................................................................................................................................57 Lynn E. Long, Extension horticulturist, Wasco County, Oregon State University; Gregory Lang, professor of horticulture, Michigan State University; Stefano Musacchi, associate professor, and Matthew Whiting, Extension specialist, both of Washington State University. Pacific Northwest Extension publications are produced cooperatively by the three Pacific Northwest land-grant universities: Oregon State University, Washington State University, and the University of Idaho. For this publication, Cherry Training Systems (PNW 667), Michigan State University was a key partner in producing and reviewing the content. 2 A Pacific Northwest Extension Publication PNW 667 • April 2015 Cherry Training Systems L. Long, G. Lang, S. Musacchi, and M. Whiting Any tree fruit training system will provide a Understanding the Natural Tree framework with the potential to produce large Undisturbed in its native environment, the young quantities of high-quality fruit. However, many sweet cherry (Prunus avium) will grow as a central traditional training systems create complex canopies, leader tree. Growth is rapid and apical dominance take years to fully develop, lack a systematic plan is strong. Thus, the tree tends to branch only just to renew fruiting wood, and are difficult to clearly below the terminal bud of annual growth, can grow and specifically explain. Due to the rising cost of to 60 feet, and is non-precocious so it can establish a production, an increasingly limited skilled labor competitive “footprint” in the forest before shifting pool, and escalating competition on the world resources to fruiting. All growers face the challenge market, modern training systems must offer growers of managing sweet cherry so that the tree remains results such as these: small, generates branches at the desired locations, n Precocity or early fruiting for high early yields and begins producing fruit by the second or third and a more rapid return on investment leaf. n Production on well-exposed wood of moderate n Excessively vigorous growth – Cherry trees vigor to provide high-quality fruit are inherently large and vigorous. Without n A systematic process to renew fruiting wood intervention when young, they produce long shoots with few lateral branches or fruiting n Repeated canopy units for simplicity in training spurs. This trait makes orchard canopy and pruning development challenging and limits fruit Cherry growers around the world use many production. training systems, both supported and freestanding. n Narrow crotch angles – Cherry trees tend to This publication describes eight commercially produce branches with narrow crotch angles. successful systems: Kym Green Bush (KGB), Spanish Such angles often are weak and prone to bark Bush (SB), Steep Leader (SL), Super Slender Axe inclusion, a condition in which bark is trapped (SSA), Tall Spindle Axe (TSA), Upright Fruiting between the trunk and the branch, preventing Offshoots (UFO), Upright Fruiting Offshoots “Y” layers of annual wood from growing together. Trellis (UFO-Y) and Vogel Central Leader (VCL), Splitting and/or bacterial canker infections all of which can be achieved with a whip (vs. (caused by the freezing of water trapped in a feathered) nursery tree. Each system has benefits narrow crotch) can occur at these locations. and limitations. Choosing the right system depends Narrow crotch angles are associated with upright on growing conditions, variety, rootstock, labor vigorous growth that competes with the leader availability, and management skills. This training and is less productive than lateral growth of manual will provide readers with the information moderate vigor and wider crotch angles. needed to choose a training system for new plantings. You will learn how to implement the chosen system to meet your production goals. 3 n Delayed fruiting – On their own roots, cherry fully pedestrian orchard—one that can be harvested trees can take 5 to 6 years or more to produce without ladders or platforms. Tree formation is fruit. Pruning can modify tree vigor and increase easy and requires minimal labor; mature pruning is branch production. However, pruning—and simple and follows a repeatable plan. especially dormant heading cuts—tends to delay fruit production in young trees by stimulating Spanish Bush (SB) vegetative growth. Other factors, such as deep, The Spanish Bush (SB) is a free-standing tree that productive soils or over-fertilization, increase consists of multiple permanent leaders to moderate tree vigor and delay the onset of floral initiation. tree vigor, enabling the system to be grown with full- Dwarfing and precocious rootstocks have made size or semi-dwarfing rootstocks. Lateral fruiting it possible to harvest a crop in the second or third units are developed and renewed on the leaders. leaf, more easily control tree size, and encourage The SB produces a semi-pedestrian orchard that can wider branch angles at desired locations. Proper be harvested from small ladders. Tree formation is management and training of trees on dwarfing easy and requires minimal labor; mature pruning rootstocks controls fruit set, balances leaf area with consists of renewing horizontal fruiting wood on the crop load, and promotes larger fruit. permanent vertical scaffolds. Annual shoot elongation is imperative for Steep Leader (SL) maximum fruit quality. The largest and highest The Steep Leader (SL) can best be described as a quality cherries are produced at the base of the free-standing tri- or quad-axe multiple leader tree previous season’s growth and on young spurs. The with horizontal scaffold branches projecting from the orchard manager’s goal should be to produce an base of each leader. This canopy architecture creates a abundance of new shoots about 24 inches in length pyramidal shape that facilitates good light distribution in targeted zones throughout the tree, depending on throughout the tree. Due to the limited number of the training system, while removing old spurs. leaders, SL trees on full-size rootstocks can grow from Training System Options 18 to 20 feet or more. Fruiting wood is developed on the permanent vertical and horizontal scaffolds, and Consider carefully before selecting a training each scaffold is treated as an individual one-sided system. Make the right choice for your orchard by spindle tree. Mature pruning consists of regular understanding the intensity of required management renewal of a portion of all fruiting wood. and how training factors interact to promote flower bud initiation, vegetative growth, and renewal wood Super Slender Axe (SSA) when and where it is advantageous. Realize that the The Super Slender Axe (SSA) is a very high recommended tree and row spacings, target shoot/ density, semi-pedestrian system of up to 2,000 semi- branch/scaffold numbers, etc. in this guide usually free-standing single leader trees per acre, usually are ranges that will vary according to the specific requiring dwarfing rootstocks and a top-wire trellis. combination of factors associated with each orchard The production habit of SSA trees is significantly site,
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