when do I prune supercolumn apples?

[The Yorkshire Rose]

when is the right time to prune supercolumns and how should they be done to ensure a good crop of apples?

[daylily]

when is the right time to prune supercolumns and how should they be done to ensure a good crop of apples?

What on earth are they?

[rustylady]

^^^ Supercolumns - Chris Bowers and Sons. There is a cultivation guide on the site too, though it doesn't specifically mention supercolumns they sound to me like cordons grown upright instead of at an angle. FB will know for sure when he visits the Vine again.

[FB.]

Pruning depends on what you want or need to achieve - and depends greatly on the shape and vigour of the plant.

Dormant winter pruning is used to invigorate, to grow new/additional side branches and to reduce fruiting to direct energy into further growth.

Summer pruning (late July) is used to reduce vigour and increase fruitfulness but should only be used on trees/bushes/cordons which are showing satisfactory growth (at least six inches of new growth).

There will be some years where a fruit tree doesn't need much - if any - pruning. Don't prune "just because the book says to prune" - you should prune with a specific plan in mind of what you're trying to achieve from the pruning.

So without knowing more about your trees' size, vigour and what you want for it, it is impossible to give a specific recommendation.

If you post a picture so we can see its shape/size/health - and give an idea of how much it is growing and what you want from it - then we could recommend how to prune it.

[daylily]

^^^ Supercolumns - Chris Bowers and Sons. There is a cultivation guide on the site too, though it doesn't specifically mention supercolumns they sound to me like cordons grown upright instead of at an angle. FB will know for sure when he visits the Vine again.

Thanks for that Lady. I wa sthinking on the same lines as some sort of cordons, fancy new terminology. Or just wait for the maistro.