pruning and training sweet cherriessweet...

Pruning and Training Sweet CherriesSweet Cherries

Lynn E. Long Oregon State University Extensiong y

The Dalles Production TrendsThe Dalles Production Trends

• Largest productionLargest production area

• 10 000 A• ~ 10,000 A• 200 A – 1500 A

Oregon Production Trends

• Oregon– 80% of dwarfing

t t k ld i trootstocks sold into Oregon

– Gisela 6 and 12Gisela 6 and 12– Krymsk 5 (K6)

• OCG purchased 50 000 i 200650,000 since 2006

• Premium $3.50 vs $1.00

Labor IssuesLabor Issues

Worker Prod cti it• Worker Productivity• Worker Satisfaction

W k S f t• Worker Safety• Ability to Attract Labor

M R dilMore Readily

100 lbs/hr171 lbs/hr

Pedestrian OrchardsPedestrian Orchards

• Concerned aboutConcerned about labor

• Pedestrian orchards– Easier maintenance– Harvest time is halved– Need fewer pickers

Standard density = 15’x18’ Mazzard High density = 10’x16’ Gisela

Comparing the Economic and Cash Costs to Establish a Standard and High Density Sweet Cherry Orchard

in Wasco County, Oregon.

$2,000$6,000

$10,000 Economic Costs, StandardDensityCash Flow, Standard Density

-$10,000-$6,000-$2,000

Cas ow, Sta da d e s ty

Economic Costs, High Density

-$18,000-$14,000

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Cash Flow, High Density

Cash Flow = planting costs, Economic Costs = interest costs, labor, fertilizer, chemicals, harvest costs

depreciation, return on investments

C. Seavert

Future Labor ShortagesFuture Labor Shortages

• We will lack trainedWe will lack trained laborers.

• We now have complicated systems

• Impossible to preplicate

• Dr. Matthew Whiting– “We need to take the

art out of pruning.”

Choosing the right systemChoosing the right system

• As important asAs important as choosing– Variety– Rootstock

Three SystemsThree Systems

Training System PublicationTraining System Publication

• Steep LeaderSteep Leader• Vogel Spindle• Spanish BushSpanish Bush• $5.00 + postage

Spanish BushSpanish Bush

• Developed in EbroDeveloped in Ebro Valley of Spain

• Dwarfing rootstocks grecommended for fertile soils

• Non-dwarfing used in Spain, Australia

Spanish Bush AttributesSpanish Bush Attributes• Divert vigorDivert vigor

throughout multiple branches

• Maximum height 8 ft

Early TrainingEarly Training

• Branching formedBranching formed through heading cuts

• Non-precociousp

Spanish BushSpanish Bush

• Laterals are bearingLaterals are bearing wood

• Leaders are permanent

KGB ModificationKGB Modification

• No permanentNo permanent branches


• Similar throughSimilar through formation


• 2-4 largest leaders2 4 largest leaders stubbed back each year (dormant)

• New growth headed (dormant)

• Laterals removed (after harvest)

Vogel Central Leader (S i dl )(Spindle)

• Developed inDeveloped in Franconia, Germany

• 8-10 ft x 16-18 ft • Works best with

dwarfing rootstocksg• Maximum height 10-

12 ft

Early TrainingEarly Training

• Expensive to trainExpensive to train

Precocious SystemPrecocious System

• Highly precociousHighly precocious– Horizontal angles– Little pruning in p g

establishment

3rd leaf Regina

Mature TreeMature Tree

• At maturity easy andAt maturity easy and fast to prune

• Don’t allow upper ppbranches to dominate

• Stub back branches• Tip all new growth

Upright Fruiting OffshootsUpright Fruiting Offshoots

• Developed by DrDeveloped by Dr. Matthew Whiting

UFOUFO

• Very PrecociousVery Precocious• Very Simple

UFOUFO

• Upright branchesUpright branches placed by bud removal orremoval or scoring

• 8” 12” spacing• 8 -12 spacing

UFOUFO

• 20% of branches20% of branches rotated out each yearyear

UFOUFO

• Pruning principlesPruning principles taught in minutes.

Principles of PruningPrinciples of Pruning

• Common to any systemCommon to any system on productive rootstocks

• KGB, Vogel Spindle, UFO• Gisela, Krymsk, MaxMa 14,

etc.• Maximize fruit size

Step 1Step 1

• Remove pendant andRemove pendant and small wood

• Bad on Mazzard• Disaster on Gisela• No new growthNo new growth• Not enough leaves to

support cropsuppo t c op

Step 2Step 2

• Dormant seasonDormant season• Remove ⅓ to ½ of

last years growthy g• Tip all branches• Reduces future cropReduces future crop

Tipping ResponseTipping Response

Unpruned

Year 1 – vegetative growth

Bing/G5g g

Year 2 – vegetative growth

Year 3 – vegetative & fruit growth

Assumptions:

7 lvs/spur6 f it/

g g6 fruit/spur2’ cm annual growth1 node per 1 inch5 leaves/fruit neces

Matthew Whiting, 5 leaves/fruit neces.

Year 3 Leaf:Fruit

WSU

f

Year 4 Leaf:Fruit

2.5 leaves/fruit

1.8 leaves/fruit

Pruned 1 yearAssumptions:

Bing/Gisela 5

7 lvs/spur6 fruit/spur60 cm annual growthg1 node per 2.5 cm5 leaves/fruit neces.

M. Whiting, WSU

Year 3 Leaf:Fruit

Year 4 Leaf:Fruit

4.7 leaves/fruit

Year 4 Leaf:Fruit

2.1 leaves/fruit• Manage crop load in year 1 (shoots)

Pruned 2 years

Year 3 Leaf:Fruit

Bing/Gisela 5

Year 3 Leaf:Fruit

Y 4 L f F i

4.4 leaves/fruit

Year 4 Leaf:Fruit

3.5 leaves/fruit

M. Whiting, WSU

• Manage crop load in year 1

Step 3Step 3

• Renewal Pruning• Stub back 20% of all

f iti d hfruiting wood each yearLeave 5” 20” stubs• Leave 5”-20” stubs

• Reduces current seasons cropseasons crop

• Renews spurs

Step 4Step 4

• Dormant seasonDormant season• Thin shoots at top of

tree to single branchg• Make sure tree

shaped like pyramidp py• Allows light

penetration throughout tree

pruning and training sweet cherriessweet...

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