[andyf75]

Hi all,
I planted a plum tree against a fence last autumn, which I want to train as a fan. Its maybe a metre high with a few short branches (only about 10cm long) but the lowest are about 60cm off the ground.
All the books suggest training branches lower than that so I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm guessing I prune it this spring to stimulate more laterals to grow and then use the new ones that grow?
Thanks!

[Trikidiki]

Unless you are going to start 'nicking' the trunk to try to get some lower branches you will have to go with what you have got. There is no reason you cannot start your fan 60cm off the ground. Do you know what rootstock it is on, I tried this some years ago with  plum and the tree was far to vigorous to keep trained that way.

[andyf75]

Hi, its a St Julien A rootstock. I bought it as being suitable for fan training so what you say makes sense. Thanks!

[Trikidiki]

Mine was supposed to have been 'St Julien A' but I don't think it was. If I did it again I would go for 'Pixy'.