Growing Apples on V-trellis: The Details
Justin Finkler, Riveridge Landing Company’s Farm Manager, presented at the 2016 International Fruit Tree Association (IFTA) conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan recently. Attendees then had the opportunity to come out to our Grant farm location to see V-trellis and vertical trellis systems in person.
Below is a quick synopsis on the details of V-trellis apple growing. Please reach out to us if you’re interested in additional information.
Why V-trellis?
- Goals
- Yields of 20 to 30 percent more than vertical system
- 90 to 100 bins per acre
- Highest possible pack-out, grow high quality fruit
- The system lends itself well to work platforms
- Easier to manage Pruning, Thinning
Diagram of a tree in full production
- 70 apples
- 72/80 size
- 1,800 bushels/acre
Cost of Planting V-trellis vs Vertical trellis
- Cost of Planting 10 x 3 ( 1452 trees/acre) vertical trellis
- 4 wire
- Wood post at 25 feet
- Drip irrigation
- $19,000.00 per acre not including land cost
- Cost of Planting 12 x 2 ( 1815 trees/acre)
V- Trellis
- 7 wire per side
- Drip irrigation and micro sprinklers for frost protection
- Steel orchard stakes at 32 feet with steel end post
- $26,000.00 per acre not including land cost, frost fans or reflective material
Ground Prep / Pre-Planting
- Soil Sampling grid samples
- Variable rate soil amendments applied
- Ground is tiled every 30’ to 40’ 4-inch corrugated black tile
- Deep ground ripping
- Root removal
- Cover crop
Planting Techniques
- Planting with a two-row planter
- GPS
- Auto Steer
- Planting 15,000 to 20,000 trees/day
Training Technique
- Tape leader to string as it grows
- Tie Down branches to each wire
- First with green tape (temporary)
- Then with black electrical tape (stronger, more permanent)
- Eliminate unwanted limbs or stub back
Graphs courtesy of ANR.MSU