[Loopyjump]

hiya!

Anyone grown apple trees as cordons? I want to grow apple trees on my plot, but have an area about 12ft by 18ft clear to grow them on - so not a huge amount of space. I'm thinking of dwarf rootstock, but am thinking of growing them as cordons so that I can make better use of the space.

I have no wall to grow them against, but was thinking of purring up sturdy fence posts with wire across, and train them on there. I have never tried anything like this before; in fact this is my first allotment so it's all a bit new!!

Anyone grown cordon trees before? Any advice? Is is easy or ridiculously complicated and time consuming with lots of fiddly bits to do and remember?

Many thanks!!

[BobE]

It might be better as an Espailier.  Central Post (6 foot out the ground) Apple tree planted at that post.  Two more posts, 5, 6 feet apart from each side of the central post.  Wires at 1 foot spaceings.  (The first wire can be 18 inches above ground if you like.  New tree, train the leader up the central post, cut the leader just above a bud near the second wire.  Choose a side branch to tie to the first wire, if they are too short at first you can use a cane to start to train them.  Next year the tree will have produced branches and a leader from the cut point, so do the same on the second wire, take two branches out and cut the leader on a pair of buds near the third wire.  Keep training the side branches.
The RHS site will probably explain this with a few pictures.

[mumofstig]

Good advice here 
http://realenglishfruit.com/2011/11/09/the-cordon-system-of-tree-training/

[BobE]

This is a posh version of what I was thinking.  I think its better than a cordon.





This is what I tried to describe.

[mumofstig]

Out of interest - why do you think an espalier is better, Bob?

You get more trees in with cordons, so you can have varieties from early to late croppers/keepers, and they'll bear fruit quicker as well.

[BobE]

Mos I think they look better.  Smarter, neater with nice rows of apples.

[Annen]

I've got four cordons in a row of only about 2m and they aren't touching each other.  Although 2 are in pots so I can move them if need be.  I don't think there is any special pruning except to keep the side branches small, just about the opposite of espalier, now I come to think of it!

[davejg]

Be careful to pick spur bearing varieties for cordons. I am going for a row of cooking apple cordons down the plot, grafting my own cos I'm tight. And its something i've always wanted a go at

[Jackypam]

Where will you get the rootstock from dave?

[engineer]

Hi, welcome to the site, have a look here---http://www.chrisbowers.co.uk/supercolumns.php

not cheap , but very good

Cheers Dave

[Loopyjump]

Thanks everyone - great advice and food for thought!! Thanks for the links and and images. I'm going back to the plot tomorrow armed with new advice and a measuring tape to see what I could fit in where. I'll post photo's in the future if I'm brave enough to try it all!