Terence Bradshaw, University of Vermont Apple Team Research Specialist
In spring 2011, a demonstration high density tall spindle apple orchard was planted at the UVM Horticultural Research Center. Advantages of high density plantings include reduced time to production, as trees yield a marketable quantity of fruit in as little as two years with full production by year five; increased cumulative yield over the life of the orchard; improved fruit quality; reduced labor inputs; and more efficient pesticide applications. The downside to adoption of this system is the high initial cost of orchard installation, as much as $18,000 in the first year, and the 'learning curve' for growers who adopt this new system. While Vermont growers have been planting more intensive systems such as vertical axe in recent years, adoption of tall spindle has not occurred quickly, as growers are reluctant to invest the significant up-front costs associated with these plantings before they have been proven successful in this region.
UVM HRC Block 20
This orchard was planted with LindaMac McIntosh and Royal Empire trees on Bud. 9 rootstock and Honeycrisp on M. 9 rootstock. Tree spacing is three feet in-row with twelve feet between rows for a tree density of 1210 trees per acre. Trees are trained to a four-wire, eight-foot high trellis. Tree planting and first-year training were similar to another orchard planted at the HRC in the same season, OrganicA Orchard 4. Installation and first-year maintenance costs for the orchard were roughly $18,000 per acre.
Research and Outreach
Results from this demonstration orchards will be reported here in future seasons. For 2012, we plan to include research on reduced fungicide programs for control of diseases on Honeycrisp. This project will be conducted by Zachary Noel, a UVM Plant and Soil Science major, as part of his field internship requirement.
We will also report on annual and cumulative yields for all cultivars in this orchard. We expect a small crop in 2012, and have high expectations for this planting in future seasons.