Articles
THE HYTEC (HYBRID TREE CONE) ORCHARD SYSTEM FOR APPLES
Article number
513_36
Pages
303 – 310
Language
Abstract
The hybrid tree cone (acronym HYTEC) orchard system was developed for the arid apple-producing districts of central Washington state.
The goals of this training system include high early and sustained yield per hectare, high labor efficiency, and high fruit quality, including minimal fruit sunburn.
Individual 3-m-tall, cone-shaped central leader trees have a basal width of 1.5 to 2.25 m.
Tree density in single rows is 1,400 to 2,300 trees/ha, and each tree is supported with a post or a pole and wire support system.
Appropriate dwarfing and precocious rootstocks for nonspur cultivars include M.9, B.9, and M.26. Annual pruning or bending of the central leader, a decision based on central leader vigor, encourages the development of strong lower scaffold branches, stimulates branching, and reduces tree height.
The lower tier of horizontal scaffold limbs is permanent.
Scaffold branches are shortened to fit within their allotted space by pruning to a weak lateral or spur.
Upper limbs are trained horizontally and after bearing fruit are shortened into older wood to retain the tree’s cone shape, to stiffen limbs and to stimulate shoot growth which provides transient shade that reduces fruit sunburn.
Central leader height is limited to 3 m by pruning into older wood to a weak lateral.
The goals of this training system include high early and sustained yield per hectare, high labor efficiency, and high fruit quality, including minimal fruit sunburn.
Individual 3-m-tall, cone-shaped central leader trees have a basal width of 1.5 to 2.25 m.
Tree density in single rows is 1,400 to 2,300 trees/ha, and each tree is supported with a post or a pole and wire support system.
Appropriate dwarfing and precocious rootstocks for nonspur cultivars include M.9, B.9, and M.26. Annual pruning or bending of the central leader, a decision based on central leader vigor, encourages the development of strong lower scaffold branches, stimulates branching, and reduces tree height.
The lower tier of horizontal scaffold limbs is permanent.
Scaffold branches are shortened to fit within their allotted space by pruning to a weak lateral or spur.
Upper limbs are trained horizontally and after bearing fruit are shortened into older wood to retain the tree’s cone shape, to stiffen limbs and to stimulate shoot growth which provides transient shade that reduces fruit sunburn.
Central leader height is limited to 3 m by pruning into older wood to a weak lateral.
Authors
B.H. Barritt
Keywords
Apple, canopy shape, light distribution, Malus domestica, rootstocks, sunburn, tree density, tree training system, pruning, yield efficiency
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