which type of apple fan?

[tutti]

Hi folks,

I've been looking at buying a ready trained apple fan and have come across types types, which I've been informed are typical of a UK north/south divide.

One is the "southern" Y kind


The other is the "northern" herringbone



What do you learned people think of these and which is preferable? Any noticeable pros or cons? One looks more like a natural tree and the other resembles a typical fan.

[Plumpudding]

Hi Tutti

I think it might just be a case of personal preference... which one you prefer the look of.

Personally I think that the traditional fans look great against a wall and the Y type look good in a more freestanding position for instance sectioning off areas of the garden a bit like an espalier. I have just ordered a greengage which I intend to train as a Y type fan for this purpose. I must admit if I was after a traditional fan I would probably buy a ready trained or partly trained tree as I wouldn't have the confidence to do it myself from scratch.

[tutti]

Yes I prefer the traditional kind of look as opposed to the more formal Y shape. One of the best looking espaliers I have seen was not the formal straight arms and trunk type that you typically see, but a natural curvy, rather lopsided, uneven kind of tree - a bit like a natural tree that had been bent in the wind.



I too don't fancy the idea of starting from scratch and am opting for a pre-trained 2 year old. Better someone who knows what they're doing makes the all important, formative first cut...... I'd be too worried and have a trembling hand!

[lookbettertomorow]

Hi, traditionally, stone fruits are fan trained, apples and pears espaliered, all to do with awfully complicated pruning of the fruiting wood versis fruiting spurs. I'm bit of a rebel and training a plum as espailer and must admit it's not happy, it naturally wants to be a fan. Perhaps I should take heed.

Its easier than you think training them and much more difficult to kill them so get out there and create! Bin the rule book, it's your tree

[lookbettertomorow]

This is my 5' stepover The fence is 6' and north facing, the idea is that the laterals will get the sun and be low enough to manage without steps. The joys of buying online, it is supposed to be a Victoria on a restrictive rootstock (forgotten which). It's neither, the plums are black, Czar? and worse, it's too vigorous, it's only 3 years since being a maiden. I put cable ties around the trunk to restrict it, it burst them off
I cut back all the side shoots to within 3 inches of the main laterals in August and now look, absolutely full of short fruiting spurs/buds. If allowed to fruit I guess the weight will snap the main laterals so a lot of thinning to do assuming......
House for sale so probably not my problem