RHS Level 2 Certificate

Week 23 – Top Fruit

Learning Outcomes

1. Top fruit .1.1 List the factors to be considered when choosing suitable cultivars and

rootstocks for top fruit.1.2 Explain the importance of pollination for top fruit and the concept of

pollination groups.1.3 Describe the factors in choosing a suitable site for an orchard2 For named varieties of each of apple (pollination groups 1-5), pear and

plum, state2.1: rootstock requirements, and fruiting habit (apples only)2.2 planting, feeding and pruning requirements (for both natural and

restricted forms and for tip and spur bearers)2.3 describe bush, espalier, fan and cordon pruning2.4 describe 2 pests and 2 diseases for each and their controls2.5 describe harvesting and storage requirements for each

Site for an orchard

Sheltered – top fruit depends on bees for pollination so windbreaks will improve fruit set.

Sunny- south facing aspect for best ripening Good depth of soil pH 6.5-7.0 ideally. Frost protection – avoid frost pockets; use of

fleece, water sprinklers, heaters.

Pollination

Some top fruit are self fertile to some extent but this is not reliable and yields are better with cross pollination.

Pollination groups provide a guide as to when the variety will flower. Need varieties in the same or adjoining groups for sucessful pollination.

Rootstocks

Top fruit trees do not grow to manageable sizes on their own roots.

Dwarfing rootstocks enable control of size Dwarfing rootstocks also mean that the tree

reaches maturity more quickly and fruits earlier

MM rootstocks have woolly aphid resistance

Top Fruit Tree Forms

Unrestricted – standard and half standard and bush forms. Grown on semi-dwarfing or vigorous root stocks, winter pruned (except for Plums which are only pruned in Summer)

Restricted – espalier, cordon, fan. Grown on dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks and summer pruned.

Advantages and disadvantages of restricted forms

Advantages: Fruit earlier than unrestricted forms. More fruit/more varieties for less space. Easier to spray and harvest. Will fit into small spaces.

Disadvantages: Grown on dwarfing stocks that need better soil and tolerate drought less well. Need more skill to prune. Tip bearing varieties of apple cannot be grown in this way.

Pruning - winter

Winter pruning – Apples and pears (spur fruiting). Reduce new growth on branch leaders by 1/3. Prune laterals to 3-4 buds. Thin spurs if too congested. Remove unproductive shoots and water shoots and any dead, diseased or crossing wood. Can you throw your hat through the tree?

Tip bearing apples – reduce branch leaders as before. Leave laterals that have fruit buds at the tip. Prune any others to 3-4 buds from the base of the new growth to encourage fruiting laterals to develop. Remove dead, diseased etc wood as before.

Pruning - Summer

Apples and pears in restricted forms. Shorten leaders to 2-3cm new growth. Prune laterals to 3 buds. Thin spurs. Remove any shoots that are growing the ‘wrong way’ e.g. into the wall.

Plums – tree forms. Remove dead, diseased and crossing wood and prune as necessary to control size by removing branches.

Plums – Fans. Prune as for restricted apples.

Feeding

Nitrogen – encourages leafy growth. Limited requirement unless on dwarf stock in restricted form.

Phosphorous – promotes root development and cold hardiness. Some supplementation required.

Potassium – promotes fruit formation. Likely to need feeding in winter by applying Sulphate of Potash or wood ash to the base of each tree.

Calcium – deficiency causes Bitter Pit. Applied in liquid form as a foliar feed.

Apples – pests and diseases

Aphid (especially woolly aphid) Codling moth Canker Apple scab

Pears – pests and diseases

Pear leaf blister mite Aphids Pear rust Fireblight

Plums – pests and diseases

Aphids Plum sawfly Silverleaf disease Canker

Harvesting and storage

Apples – pick once they lift off in a cupped hand. Store in dark, cool place with moderate humidity (plastic bags with holes in in a dark shed)

Pears – store less well. As for apples but do not wrap.

Plums – jam, bottle or freeze when cooked.

Learning outcomes

1. Top fruit .1.1 List the factors to be considered when choosing suitable cultivars and

rootstocks for top fruit.1.2 Explain the importance of pollination for top fruit and the concept of

pollination groups.1.3 Describe the factors in choosing a suitable site for an orchard2 For named varieties of each of apple (pollination groups 1-5), pear and

plum, state2.1: rootstock requirements, and fruiting habit (apples only)2.2 planting, feeding and pruning requirements (for both natural and

restricted forms and for tip and spur bearers)2.3 describe bush, espalier, fan and cordon pruning2.4 describe 2 pests and 2 diseases for each and their controls2.5 describe harvesting and storage requirements for each