Starting my espaliers in pots....

[hailtryfan]

So I've decided plant 6 new apple trees as espaliers this year as well as a bunch of cordans. I'm going to graft them myself and am putting the espaliers on M26 stock cos I don't want them getting too big in my heavy but fertile soil. Just in case anyone's interested they'll be discovery, scrumptious, lord lambourne, egremont russet, kidd's orange red and adam's pearmain.

Now the place I want to put them is currently unprepared and completely infested with couch grass. Because of this I want to plant the bare-root rootstock into large pots, graft and grow them for the next year whilst starting to shape them. In the mean time I will rid the new half of the lottie with weeds and improve the soil as much as poss with manure so the trees will be nice and happy in their permanent homes.

The trees will be supported by wires and grown 2 to a row, 7 foot apart, with the rows 6 foot apart. Going to keep the trees nice and low to avoid them shading my plot and was planning on having 2 tiers spaced 18inches apart. Rows will be planted running NW to SE.

Does this sound like a good plan? Is it worth growing them in pots for a while first or should I not bother improving the soil and just bung em in? What about my spacing and orientation? Do you think I will avoid them shading each other? Could I get away with taller espaliers?

Sorry for the long post but any input would be greatfully received

[hailtryfan]

bump

[FB.]

Growing in pots is probably a good idea. But don't let them stay in pots for too long (a year is fine, two years is OK for average-vigour varieties), otherwise the roots will become cramped and deformed - and will get into the habit of growing around in a circle, instead of growing outwards to find nutrients and water.

If your soil is good, M26 sounds like an ideal choice for an espalier/fan. On average soils, the slightly more vigorous MM106 is typically used.
Either of those rootstocks can be restrained in size with summer pruning.
Winter-prune the trees to increase vigour to form your espalier shapes, then switch to summer-prune to reduce vigour, control their size and enhance fruiting.

The varieties that you've chosen should be fine - no variety is perfect!

[hailtryfan]

Thanks for the reply FB. Really exited to get started with the grafting but will have to control my self for a month or so.

What do you think about the spacing? DO you think I could get away with 3 tier espaliers with rows 6 foot apart?

[FB.]

I don't see a problem with your spacing.
As long as your soil is reasonable, M26 rootstock is very versatile and can be formed into almost any size/shape that you want - within the limitations of its maximum size potential of about 9ft in optimum soil conditions.