partial tip bearers and restricted forms - apple cordons, minarets etc

[seneca196]

What are peoples opinions and experiences of growing restricted forms, whether cordons, minarets, espaliers etc. with varieties that are partial tip bearers. Most books and websites recommend spur varieties only and say to avoid tip bearers, but never really cover partial tip bearers. As they fruit on both spurs and tips are they ok? Will they perform and fruit less well in comparison with spur only bearers? I assume popular varieties like Discovery and Lord Lambourne are still ok as cordons, maybe just a bit trickier to prune and less productive overall compared to spur only bearers.

In a similar vain, I assume the more compact a variety the better suited it is to a restricted form. eg. Egremont Russet will do well, but laxtons superb and fiesta with their long pendulous growth will not.

Any opinions anyone?

[boundtothesoil]

I only grow bush trained apple trees, on M26 and MM106 rootstocks, including Discovery and Lord Lambourne, both of which I find produce most of their fruit on spurs. Hence, I'd have thought these two varieties would be fine grown as restricted forms. I don't see why this shouldn't apply to all partial tip bearers as long as the varieties aren't intrinsically very vigorous (e.g. Bramley's, Tom Putt) or miserly at producing lateral shoots off the leaders (e.g. Adam's Pearmain in my experience). I guess, as you say, that it's mostly down to tailoring your pruning regime a little differently.

[Kirk]

I would have said that since you will be pruning and training the tree to a restricted form that you are removing the tips almost constantly once the tree has grown to the form you want. So having the tip removed would mean no fruit on them as they are not there, whereas the older spurs are.

[orangepippin]

Partial tip-bearers are usually fine to grow as espaliers and cordons. Bramley, Discovery, Scrumptious, Worcester Pearmain for example. If in doubt, then training as a fan usually involves a bit less pruning.

[seneca196]

SO I depends on the variety of partial-tip. I have the opportunity to train some 1 year maidens into whichever form I like, but at the moment in containers only. I've got a handful of 90L containers which I intend to start them off for a few years before eventually planting them in the ground. Not keen on bushes or half standards, I had thought of a spindle bush as it would take up a bit les space, particularly if I limited the spread outwards to about 1.5m overall. Also, to my limited knowledge and experience, it seems like an efficient way to grow a tree. I think it's how it is done commercially. However, they can look a bit unkempt and haphazard, so I am now favoring pyramids, as a more tidy, ornamental looking version of a spindle, whilst also pretty efficient regarding light, ripening etc. Actually not too bothered about quantity of fruit, as I'd rather have a few of better quality.
Reason I'm asking about partial-tip is I noticed a lot of the older, "classic" varieties fruit this way and I wanted those to balance out the modern varieties I have already chosen. Hence if they are not too productive, as some of the tips are removed to accommodate the restricted form, I won't be won't be too bothered. Same goes for removing some tips and lessening the amount of fruit. Hope this makes some sense, even if my theory is completely wrong. I'm relatively new to all this and am reliant on these forums to put me straight and offer their views.
Thanks all.