The Tall Spindle: The System for NY

Steve Hoying, Terence Robinson, Alison DeMaree, Mike Fargione and Kevin Iungerman

Dept. of Horticultural Sciences, Cornell University

Geneva, NY 14456

1960’s

1980’s

40 trees/acre 200 trees/acre

600 trees/acre

Pedestrian

Orchards

Overgrown tops and shade

There has been a steady evolution in planting systems

There has been a steady evolution in planting systems Pedestrian Orchards-1980’s Triple Row Slender Spindle/M.9

Moderate yields and moderate light interception

Higher yields but poor fruit quality in the center row and poor weed control

High yields and high light interception

Geneva Y-trellis/M.26

USA-Vertical Axis - 500 trees/acre

Late 1980’s and early 1990’s- Tall Orchards (again)

Mid 1990’s - Super High Density (2,200 tree/acre)

Super Spindle/M.9

V- Super Spindle/M.9

Tree Density Spacing System ( trees/acre) (m) (ft) Rootstocks Slender Pyramid 340 2.4 x 4.9 8’x16’ M.26 Vertical Axis 518 1.5 x 4.25 6’x14’ M.9 Slender Vertical Axis 908 1.2 x 3.6 4’x12’ M.9 Tall Spindle 1320 0.9 x 3.3 3’x11’ M.9 Super Spindle 2178 0.6 x 3.0 2’x10’ M.9

In search of more competitive orchard systems in NY:

We summarized our data over 20 years of orchard trials into 5 systems of merit and evaluated their

economic potential

• Tree density had a highly significant positive effect on yield. The cumulative yield of the highest tree density was 3X greater than the lowest density. •  Tree density had a highly significant effect on final trunk cross-sectional area. The highest planting density produced trees about 1/3 the size of the lowest planting density.

0

50

100

150

200

250

Cum

Yie

ld (M

T/h

a)

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000Tree Density (trees/ha)

Effect of Tree Density on 7 Yr. Cumulative Yield

McIntoshGalaFujiEmpire

20

40

60

80

100

Tru

nk X

-Sec

t. A

rea

(cm

2)0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000

Tree Density (trees/ha)

Effect of Tree Density on Tree Size

McIntoshGalaFujiEmpire

Horticultural Results

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

1,000 1,100

Yiel

d (b

u/ac

)

5 10 15 20 Year

Annual Yield of 5 Systems

Super Spindle (2178 tr/ac) Tall Spindle (1340 tr/ac) Vertical Axis (908 tr/ac) Vertical Axis (622 tr/ac) Central Leader (340 tr/ac)

(20,000)

(10,000)

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

Acc

umul

ated

Cas

h Fl

ow

($)

0 5 10 15 20 Year

Cash Flow 5 Systems

Super Spindle (2178 tr/ac) Tall Spindle (1340 tr/ac) Vertical Axis (908 tr/ac) Vertical Axis (622 tr/ac) Central Leader (340 tr/ac)

Economic Study used average yields and estimated cash flows over 20 years

Yield Curves for 5 systems 20 Year Cash Flows

Effect of Fruit Price (Variety) •  Fruit price had the greatest effect on profitability. •  If fruit prices were low ($4.50/bu) then all systems were not profitable

except the Slender Vertical Axis. •  If fruit prices were very high ($10.00/bu) such as with a new club

variety then profitability was greatest at the highest tree density (2178 trees/acre- Super Spindle).

•  At very high fruit prices profitability was extremely high for all systems.

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

Net

Pre

sent

Val

ue ($

/acr

e)

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 Trees Density (Trees/Acre)

$10.00/bu $6.50/bu $4.50/bu $5.50/bu

The Necessity of Being an Efficient Producer •  Fruit yield had a large effect on profitability. If yields were

reduced by 10% then the low density Slender Pyramid system was barely profitable. If yields were reduced 20% then only the Slender Vertical Axis system was profitable.

•  Reducing yield level reduced the optimum density slightly from 1,100 to 1,000 trees/acre.

0

5000

10000

Net

Pre

sent

Val

ue ($

/Acr

e)

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 Trees Density (Trees/Acre)

80%Yield 90% Yield 100% Yield

Tree Density Spacing System ( tr/ha) (tr/acre) (m) (ft) Slender Pyramid 840 340 2.4 x 4.9 8’x16’ Vertical Axis 1538 518 1.5 x 4.25 6’x14’ Slender Vertical Axis 2244 908 1.2 x 3.6 4’x12’ Tall Spindle 3262 1320 0.9 x 3.3 3’x11’ Super Spindle 5382 2178 0.6 x 3.0 2’x10’

Our Results indicate NY growers should increase tree density from the current 500-600 trees/acre to 1,000-1,200 trees/acre.

The Tall Spindle System

• 0.90-1.20 m in-row spacing

(3-4’) • 3.0-3.5 m between rows

(10-12’) • 3 m tall (10’) • no permanent branches • highly feathered trees • minimal pruning at planting • feathers tied below

horizontal at planting.

Orchard System Performance in Northern NY

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

Honeycrisp McIntosh

5 Y

ear

Cum

uala

tive

Yie

ld (b

u/ac

re)

Central LeaderSlender PyramidVertical AxisSolAxeTall Spindle

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

20,000

Honeycrisp McIntosh5

Yea

r C

um. C

rop

Val

ue ($

/acr

e) Central LeaderSlender PyramidVertical AxisSolAxeTall Spindle

•The Tall Spindle was the only system to achieve 1000 bushels over 5 years. Although yield of McIntosh was greater than Honeycrisp the cumulative crop value of Honeycrisp was vastly greater than McIntosh. •SolAxe yield and crop value was similar to the Vertical Axis.

0

10

20

30

40

50 Yi

eld

(kg/

tree

)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Year

Effect of Tree Quality on Yield of Empire/M.9 Apple Trees.

2yr Feathered 2yr Whip 1yr Graft Sleeping Eye

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

Net

Pre

sent

Val

ue ($

/ha)

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000Tree Density (trees/ha)

2yr Feathered2yr Whip1yr GraftSleeping Eye

• Large caliper feathered trees have higher production than small caliper trees. • Large caliper, feathered trees are the most profitable when planted at the densities used in the Tall Spindle 900-1,300 trees/acre. • Less expensive sleeping eye trees are more profitable when planted at the very high densities from 2,000-3,000 trees/acre (Super Spindle system).

What is the best tree to use in the Tall Spindle system?

Typical feathered trees in the USA have ~ 5 large feathers These require some pruning and significant branch tying. With wide spacing as used with Vertical Axis we suggested tipping leader and feathers

With the Tall Spindle we suggest removing the 2 largest diameter feathers but leaving the leader and feathers unheaded. All remaining feathers must be tied down to prevent them from becoming large branches.

Large feathers, if tied down, can be cropped for several years without becoming dominant branches.

Tree Training of the Tall Spindle •  Do not head leader. •  Do not head feathers. •  Remove feathers that compete with leader using a bevel cut. •  Tie down 5-8 feathers below horizontal at planting or in July.

–  Remove narrow angled branches. –  Remove scaffolds that are larger than 2/3 diameter of leader. –  Remove side branches that are longer than 2'. –  Remember "large branches create large trees"

•  Remove branches larger than 3/4 inch diameter.

Mature Tall Spindle/M.9 3’ x 11’ 11’ tall

The Tall Spindle has fruiting branches that remain for 3-6 years but no permanent scaffold branches

Older Tall Spindle Orchard

•  M.9 –  Fire blight is a risk in NY and winter damage is a risk in colder areas. –  Use weaker clone of M.9 (T337) with vigorous scion varieties or with

vigorous or virgin soil. –  Use the vigorous clones (Nic29, Pajam2) with weak varieties or with

weak soils or on replant soils or in hot climates. •  B.9

–  Is weaker than M.9 and must be spaced very close to achieve high yields per acre. It may be too weak with weak scions.

–  More winter hardy than M.9. –  Has field resistance to fire blight. –  Very susceptible to apple replant disease.

•  G.11, G.41, G.16 –  Similar in vigor to M.9. –  As productive or more productive than M.9. –  Fire blight resistant.

Rootstocks Suggestions for Tall Spindle

Three Dwarfing Geneva® Rootstocks •  G.11

•  Tree size and productivity are similar to M.9. •  Large fruit size. •  It is fire blight resistant but is not immune. •  In European CG trial it has looked the best. •  Commercial sales in the US are strong.

•  G.16 •  Tree size is similar to vigorous clones of M.9 •  Large fruit size. •  It is fire blight immune. •  Good resistance to replant disease •  Requires virus free budwood. •  Currently available from most nurseries.

•  G.41 •  Tree size is similar to M.9 but productivity is

better. •  It is resistant to fire blight and crown rot •  It is very winter hardy •  Good resistance to replant disease •  Will be available in 2-3 years.

Conclusions 1)   The tall spindle system appears to be the most profitable system for

New York growers. 2)   Highly feathered trees are the key to the system 3)   Branch angle management. Bending feathers below horizontal at

planting induces early cropping and limits branch size. 4)   Branch caliper management. Removal of large branches keeps trees

manageable. 5)   Restrict vegetative growth by partitioning a high proportion of

photosynthates into apples.