Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/40315
make incisions in the trunks. Vercammen said this was too much, particularly as the 2011 spring was exceptionally dry and the trees were under drought stress. "Luckily, it started raining in June, oth- erwise I think the trees would die," he said, adding that he would only recom- mend root pruning when there is exces- sive tree growth. "Only do it every two or three years." $"# ;*()' Slender spindle:This is the most com- monly planted pear system in Belgium. In 2010, it produced 50 bins per acre of small fruit. Cumulative production was the low- est of any of the systems at 201 bins per acre. Vercammen said several mistakes had been made with this planting. First, the nursery trees were not good quality. Then, during the fourth growing season, there were a lot of flower buds, and the trees were not pruned severely enough. Because of the competition between fruitlets, many of them fell to the ground, and only ten bins per acre were harvested, which had a major impact on the overall financial result. To address excess vigor and low pro- duction, some rows were root pruned with a straight knife 12 inches from the for 60 months or $;*()' NEW/RENTAL RETURN LEASE RETURN/USED 46+' TRACTORS $! /0./ ' ;0+, (88454--,3+,6 $! $! +,:,145,+ ,<*1970:,1=)= 9664;7$6(*846 $&!4+0-0,+' $;*()' $' '"$"$%"# 442,6;14(+,6' $&;+;(6+7 The long pruning system (named because of the long, pendant branches) has been the most profitable so far, but it tends to produce small fruit. $!4+0-0,+' $&' $ ' 4;564-01,>9,1,--0*0,38>24(8038,6,78 1)5810-8*(5(*08=>",10()1,46!,3.03, 442,6' Candlestick trees have two branches growing vertically each side of the central leader, creating a three-leader tree. In this trial the side branches are out of balance with the central leader and it will be difficult to maintain vigor in the side branches. 46+' "Serving "Your Ag Area FarmersEquipment Since 1939" 800-827-5138 (66(64$;*()' 1308 East Mead YAKIMA,WA 509-457-8105 burrowstractor.com QUALITY SERVICE QUALITY PARTS 927 Wenatchee Ave WENATCHEE,WA 509-888-0355 $& SEE US TODAY…WE HAVE OVER 140 NEW AND USED TRACTORS IN STOCK! 14 SEPTEMBER 2011 GOOD FRUIT GROWER Specialist" $& trunks, on one side of the row one year, and on the other side the next. Super spindle: This system normally depends on competition between tree roots to restrict tree growth, but Vercam- men said that doesn't happen in the area's heavy loam soil. Because of excess vigor, the trees were root pruned every year. The large number of trees makes it an expen- sive system, and it is the least profitable one in the trial. This system would be more successful on lighter, sandy soils, he said. • www.goodfruit.com