M9 as step over or 2 tier espalier

[Paulieb]

Pretty straightforward really.

I have some maiden M9 trees planted in position position initially to grow as stepovers but higher than a normal step over, perhaps about 3ft high.

But now I wondered about making them a freestanding (supported) 2 tier espalier. How suitable is the M9 rootstock for this?

[Kristen]

I think M9 side branches will be spindly, and M26 would be better suited to an Espallier.

[orangepippin]

I think this will probably work, for up to 2 reasonably narrow tiers. It does depend a bit on the variety and your soil and climate, but in good conditions with a reasonably vigorous variety it should work.

The catch with M9 is that it is sometimes difficult to find buds in the exact right spot for the tiers, so be prepared to compromise and use any that look vaguely in the right place.

Although text books often portray a nice line of ascending size from M27 up to M25, with M9 smaller than M26, in real life it is different. M9 can grow as tall as M26 quite easily, but as Kristen says it always remains quite spindly.

[Paulieb]

Cool. Its a beauty of bath which keepers says is vigorous so that will help. My soil is clay/loam and the tree is along the side of a raised bed if that makes much difference?!?

I really dont mind whether it ends up one tier or two, though 2 if its possible as that should mean more fruit but then if it struggles that wouldn't perhaps be true.

I just assumed that being a size up from M27 that 2 tiers would be straightforward. Glad I raised the question now.

[FB.]

Cool. Its a beauty of bath which keepers says is vigorous.

My opinion of Beauty of Bath is that it is actually only medium vigour, but its considerable tip-bearing habit, its early flowering (sometimes it doesn't get pollinated), its tendency to drop fruit prematurely, its occasional hesitancy to start cropping and its ability to not lose too much vigour due to having quite good pest/disease resistance can eventually result in it becoming quite a large tree after many years.
Irish Peach is the same: listed as vigorous but actually a considerable tip-bearer that only grows at a medium rate.


I think that with good management (adequate feeding and watering to get it up to size) you'll be able to make a M9 BoB into a small two-tier espalier.
M9 is getting on for twice the vigour of M27.

Beware of the tiny root system that M9 develops and the risk of leaning or falling over; I can pull up several-year-old M9 like weeds! The root system can be surprisingly small and is as brittle as the taproot of a parsnip.

[Kristen]

If BoB is a tip bearer will that be a disadvantage training it as an espallier?

[FB.]

If BoB is a tip bearer will that be a disadvantage training it as an espallier?

Yes, but if well-managed it will produce enough spurs. Being medium vigour makes tip-bearers more manageable. Its offspring (Discovery) and Discovery's mother (Worcester Pearmain) are both part-tip bearers with medium growth rates and can be grown as restricted forms.
It's the vigorous triploid tip bearers that are most difficult, such as Bramley, Blenheim and others because they are difficult to keep small and don't tend to produce many side branches or spurs.
But having said that: I've seen Blenheim Orange MM106 do well as a large espalier in a well-tended kitchen garden.

[boundtothesoil]

If BoB is a tip bearer will that be a disadvantage training it as an espallier?

I have a twenty year old BoB (traditional bush trained) and although it produces some of its flowers on the tips of branches, it also produces a lot of spurs. It's one the most pest and disease resistant varieties I have, but you have to eat the fruit pretty much off the tree to get the best of its flavour.