Growing Successive Ripening Low Chill Espaliered Apples

[@Soilfoodwebwarrior]

I wish I saw this video 2 weeks ago. That is a great use of space. Thanks I live close to you but I am growing much different apple species

[@fletcherfarm]

Thanks! This was dead space two years ago. It's shaping up nicely. I'm in the Mt Helix neighborhood, glad to hear from other growers nearby.

[@user-pn8tm5eq3u]

For more pollinator plants in limited space, squeeze in columnar apple trees in between the espalier trees but not along the wall. Columnars have 3’ diameters

[@fletcherfarm]

Interesting option! I would need to see if I could find a low chill variety for my climate.

[@user-pn8tm5eq3u]

@@fletcherfarm I have a similar climate and bought some random columnars (that bloom when my other apple trees do) on sale hoping for the best. It’ll be an experiment. I’ve heard and seen videos here that show that supposedly high-chill trees can grow in Irvine after all

[@0anant0]

Those espaliered trees look really nice (esp. Anna)! Whenever I buy (superdwarf) apple or pear trees, I look for a structure similar to what you have on Anna, so I can 'instantly' espalier them :-) Perhaps you can squeeze in espaliered pear trees (or grapes) in the gaps?

[@fletcherfarm]

I hadn't thought of squeezing something between. Hmmm... Maybe a vine so I could go up and over. I'm going to think on that one for a bit!

[@jennybaez-cepeda4919]

That is a wonderful idea. I wish I would’ve thought of it. What kind of spray oils do you use?

[@fletcherfarm]

Hi! The Anna works so well espaliered. King David is doing well, but my Winter Banana apple might have been better off as a traditional central leader tree. I do not use any sprays regularly, but I will do spot treatments (like right now I'm battling scale orchard-wide).

[@BRIANLIMBARO]

From seed

[@fletcherfarm]

Very few of my 90+ trees are true to type. I grow from seed and use it as a rootstock. Otherwise, I'm grafting or buying known varieties.