By Tyler HardyBrookdale Fruit Farm, Inc.

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240

Tips for Managing Young High Density Apple Plantings

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240AppleProduction

165 Acres of Apples- Many different sizes and systems

Planting mainly tall spindle since 2008- M9, B9, G11, G41, G935, Nic-29M9-337, B10, M26, B9/111, Pajam-2

RubymacLindamacSnappymacMacounRoyalcourtGalaEarly FujiFujiSnowsweetHoneycrispMAIA-1MAIA-11CrimsoncrispZestarDandee RedEmpire

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240High Density Problems

AVOIDTHEDREADEDSINKINGPROBLEM!!!!-Itstartswiththetreeplanter

Biggestproblemwasinconsistentplantingdepth-Scionrooting-Loseproduction/increasevegetation

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240

-Corrected planter problemsAdjust frequently pending on field

-Having consistent shank is very advantageous-Easy to add soil – very difficult to take away-Use more labor-Smoother planting surface when finished

1. Plant Tree2. Rake in the edges3. Adjust tree height4. Smooth surface around tree again

More consistent bud union depthUse the “fist” rule

Done right the first timeCan help with drainage/pooling

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240

GetirrigationonASAP!Temporaryheaderlines

2”x450’headerhoseisonly$145T-tapestarterorSWV$0.60-1.60

Getswateroutifnotimetodigpermanentundergroundmains

Drip Irrigation

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Things to Consider

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240

Painting treesWeed Control is keyTree TrainingExtra support

Tall Spindle Chores

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Let’s tie some limbs!

RubberbandsMax-tapenerWeights/Rocks

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Pruning Newly Planted Trees

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Single out the leader

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Renewal cuts

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Don’t crop too early!!!

-Let the tree fill space before cropping heavy-When thinking of cropload look at rootstock and variety combinations

Honeycrisp on B9 cropped to heavy-Pruned very aggressive-Plenty of N-Single leaders like younger tree-Allow fruit but hand thin hard

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Over cropped too early

Cutoffeverylimbleavingarenewalcut-Treattreelikenewlyplanted-Singleleader

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Tips for upright growing varieties

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Tips for upright growing varieties

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Tall Spindle not for you?

M26 or similar more vigorous root4’x14’ = 777 trees/acreLess intensive trellis systemFollow tall spindle rulesRenewal pruning systemCan still obtain high yields earlyIf vigor gets to be too much

crop heavy

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240Tall Spindle not for you?Bud1185’-7’ x 14’-16’ spacing622-384 trees/acreBottom scaffold semi-permanentPotential for 1000+ bushel/acreLimb training essential in first couple years

Brookdale Fruit Farm Inc. 38 Broad Street

Hollis NH (603) 465 2240

Tyler HardyBrookdale Fruit Farm, Inc.38 Broad St.Hollis, NHwww.brookdalefruitfarm.com603.465.2241 ext.3hardy.ty@gmail.com