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Training Systems for Peaches and Nectarines

Training Systems for Peaches and Nectarines. Mercy Olmstead, Ph.D. Stonefruit Extension Specialist. Orchard Training Systems. 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

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Training Systems for Peaches and Nectarines

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  1. Training Systems for Peaches and Nectarines Mercy Olmstead, Ph.D. Stonefruit Extension Specialist

  2. Orchard Training Systems • 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

  3. Open Vase training System • 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

  4. Open vase • Pruning young trees: Year 1 Year 2

  5. Open Vase • Pruning Techniques • Dormant 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

  6. Perpendicular-V • System developed in California • Spacing: • 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-prone • Tree height set at 8 feet • Optimize activities from ground

  7. Perpendicular-V • Pruning young trees: Year 1 http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/files/datastore/391-540.pdf

  8. Perpendicular-V Year 2 Year 3+

  9. Perpendicular-V • Pruning Techniques • Dormant Pruning • Remove vigorous shoots (watersprouts) • Shape tree • Choose fruiting wood as close to scaffolds aspossible • 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

  10. Orchard Training SYstems • 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

  11. 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 http://njaes.rutgers.edu/peach/orchard/peachyields.pdf

  12. Orchard training systems • Training considerations • Open vase system = longer time per tree to prune, thin, etc. • Perpendicular-V = uniform system, shorter time required per tree/activity • Tree 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

  13. Training system case study • 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 $24,929/ac gross income http://njaes.rutgers.edu/peach/orchard/peachyields.pdf

  14. Which is right for me? • 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

  15. Questions? Gulfking, May 2010

  16. IBA Rooting Experiment

  17. Optimizing rooting conditions for cuttings • Compare timings with IBA concentration to determine successful combination • 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

  18. Rooting Success Sharpe Rootstock (clonal plum) Flordaguard Rootstock

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