Mercy Olmstead, Ph.D. Stonefruit Extension Specialist TRAINING SYSTEMS FOR PEACHES AND NECTARINES.
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Transcript of Mercy Olmstead, Ph.D. Stonefruit Extension Specialist TRAINING SYSTEMS FOR PEACHES AND NECTARINES.
Mercy Olmstead, Ph.D. Stonefruit Extension Specialist
TRAINING SYSTEMS FOR PEACHES AND
NECTARINES
Training system decisions must start before planting
Know what the orchard will look like when mature Follow a plan
Traditional vs. New Systems Open Vase Perpendicular-V - focus on early fruit
production and high yield
SCRI – Innovative Technologies for Thinning Fruit Testing thinning equipment in both
systems Uniform “plane” of fruiting area has been
most successful
ORCHARD TRAINING SYSTEMS
Traditional System In many other locations – can take 6-8 years for trees to fill in
spaces Florida = ideal growing conditions with 7-8 feet of growth per year
Trees can grow together in close spacings within one year
Spacing: 15 x 20 = 145 trees 10 x 20 = 218 trees
Trees trained to 3-4 scaffolds Cover each quadrant to optimize light interception
Tree height set at 8 feet Optimize activities without use of ladders
OPEN VASE TRAINING SYSTEM
Pruning young trees:
OPEN VASE
Year 1 Year 2
Pruning TechniquesDormant Pruning
Remove vigorous shoots (watersprouts) Shape tree Choose fruiting wood Thin branches
Summer Pruning Reduce height of tree to 8 feet Remove dead shoots Remove hanging shoots close to ground Increase light penetration to middle of tree
Be careful of sunburn! Light is very important to form flower buds for next year
OPEN VASE
System developed in CaliforniaSpacing:
6’ x 18’ or 20’, depending on previous system 403 trees/ac
Trees are trained to two main scaffolds 50-60 degrees apart between scaffolds If angle is too vertical (<20° from vertical), scaffolds will be weak If angle is too horizontal (>45° from vertical), scaffolds are
sunburn-proneTree height set at 8 feet
Optimize activities from ground
PERPENDICULAR-V
Pruning young trees:
PERPENDICULAR-V
Year 1
http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/391-540.pdf
PERPENDICULAR-V
Year 2
Year 3+
Pruning TechniquesDormant Pruning
Remove vigorous shoots (watersprouts) Shape tree Choose fruiting wood as close to scaffolds as
possible Thin branches
Summer Pruning Reduce height of tree to 8 feet Remove dead shoots Increase light penetration to fruiting wood
Thin shoots Be careful of sunburn – leave a few upright shoots in middle
May have to do 2 or 3x with this system Excessive vigor in FL
PERPENDICULAR-V
Decision Tools – Which system is right for your orchard?
Spacing and cost considerations 145 Trees/Ac vs. 403
Trees/Ac. 15’ x 20’ vs 8’ x 20’ Increased costs with
tighter spacing Costs are fixed at
$11.00/tree
ORCHARD TRAINING SYSTEMS
Labor considerations Higher density =
higher labor costs Thinning more
costly Perpendicular-V
easy to establish and prune May have to
summer prune multiple times to maintain system
ORCHARD TRAINING SYSTEMS
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/peach/orchard/peachyields.pdf
Training considerations Open vase system = longer time per tree to prune, thin, etc. Perpendicular-V = uniform system, shorter time required per
tree/activityTree loss due to disease, insects, etc.
In higher density system, loss of yield due to resets is minimal
Returns to grower Overall yield per acre is higher with perpendicular-V What does your market need?
Delivery in bulk vs. spread throughout season
ORCHARD TRAINING SYSTEMS
Byron, GA Redglobe/Guardian Trees were in 4th leaf
(2002)Gross Income
Open Vase 61.82 lbs x 145 trees/ac x
$2.00/lb = $17,927/ac
Perpendicular-V 30.93 lbx x 403 trees/ac x
$2.00/lb = $24,929/ac
**Subtract out other costs to get net income
TRAINING SYSTEM CASE STUDY
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/peach/orchard/peachyields.pdf
$24,929/ac gross income
Start small Open Vase has been successful in FL Prospective growers should minimize investment costs
Trials for established growers High density system (Perpendicular-V) Established stream of income before diving in
Other considerations Cost Spacing (available land?) Skilled labor force
Training Tree replacement and yield loss
WHICH IS RIGHT FOR ME?
QUESTIONS?
Gulfking, May 2010
IBA ROOTING EXPERIMENT
IBA Concentrations: 0, 1000, 2000, 4000 ppm
Cutting collection 2009
August 3 (softwood) August 10 (softwood) August 17 (semi –
hardwood) 2010
January 20 (hardwood) Late June July (2-3 times) August (2-3 times
2011 January
Compare timings with IBA concentration to determine successful combination
OPTIMIZING ROOTING CONDITIONS FOR CUTTINGS
ROOTING SUCCESS
Sharpe Rootstock(clonal plum)
Flordaguard Rootstock