A good knowledge of how pear trees grow and fruit, and how they differ from apple trees, is essential for managing a branchless multi-leader pear orchard.
The branchless multi-leader tree is a good example of a controlled canopy with good distribution of sunlight.
This poses new challenges for orchardists, hence the need for a manual that complements our popular manual: pear on Open Tatura.
160 pages of information, photos and illustrations
This manual contains important aspects of pear behaviour, and shows you step-by-step how to develop and train the branchless multi-leader pear tree.
The branchless multi-leader pear tree is a relatively new training system in Australia and the manual will be progressively updated.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we have illustrated this manual with many photos and drawings, as we have with our other manuals.
What you will find in this manual
Tree Training
The problems with branches
Benefits of a branchless tree
What are fruiting units?
Creating fruiting units
Make good use of sunlight — grow pears not wood
Forcing the leaders to make prolectic shoots
Create efficient and productive fruiting canopies:
- What is apical dominance
- Manage sunlight
- Turn proleptic shoots into fruiting units
Rootstocks
- Pyrus Calleryana
- Winter Nellis; BP1; Quince
- BM2000; Own roots
Nutrition
- Nitrogen & pear size
- Leaf vs soil analysis
Pests & Disease
- Pear blossom blast (Pseudomonas syringae)
Hail net
- Pros/cons, crop effects, bee activity
- Types, structure, shape, colour
- Plant first or net first?
Orchard management
How to keep the heads of the leaders calm
Maintain efficient and productive fruiting canopies:
- Restrict root growth
- Plant trees closely
- Do most of the pruning in summer and less in winter
- Apply Regulated Deficit Irrigation
- Apply growth retardants
Your orchard starts in the nursery
- Steps to ensure your orchard gets a good start.
Tree training system
The branchless multi-leader tree — a production line
Upright vs angled canopies
How many leaders per tree?
Tree training Open Tatura and upright trellis: first & second years — two leaders & four leaders:
- Creating fruiting units
- Manage apical dominance
- Notching; Stubbing new shoots
- From proleptic shoots