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Donna UK 06-04-2009 01:27 PM

Cherry tree on Colt rootstock
 
Hi All

The boyfriend at the weekend has brought me a cherry tree after me saying
how much I would like to get one at some point. Thing is he has brought me
one on colt rootstock rather than G5 which they say can grow to 14-16ft
(some are even saying 20ft!!).

I have had a look online regarding training, pruning and how to reduce the
height and confused myself... Has anyone got any experience of limiting the
height of a fruit tree on colt rootstock? I saw one site that suggests
bending the branches downwards.

Any advice is really appreciated as I don't want to hurt the boyfriends
feelings...

Donna




Stewart Robert Hinsley 06-04-2009 02:16 PM

Cherry tree on Colt rootstock
 
In message , Donna UK
writes
Hi All

The boyfriend at the weekend has brought me a cherry tree after me saying
how much I would like to get one at some point. Thing is he has brought me
one on colt rootstock rather than G5 which they say can grow to 14-16ft
(some are even saying 20ft!!).

I have had a look online regarding training, pruning and how to reduce the
height and confused myself... Has anyone got any experience of limiting the
height of a fruit tree on colt rootstock? I saw one site that suggests
bending the branches downwards.

Any advice is really appreciated as I don't want to hurt the boyfriends
feelings...

Donna

Wouldn't it be simpler in the long run to just explain to him about
rootstocks ("It's a lovely thought, but ...) and accompany him back to
the supplier to see if they'll exchange it for one on G5 rootstock.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

Rusty_Hinge[_2_] 06-04-2009 08:49 PM

Cherry tree on Colt rootstock
 
The message
from Stewart Robert Hinsley contains these words:

Wouldn't it be simpler in the long run to just explain to him about
rootstocks ("It's a lovely thought, but ...) and accompany him back to
the supplier to see if they'll exchange it for one on G5 rootstock.


I think that's the most sensible solution.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

gray 09-04-2009 12:49 PM

Cherry tree on Colt rootstock
 
Gisela 5 is really only suited for dwarf potted use. Most GC's do not
stock Gisela 5 as a norm.

All the cherries I grow are on Colt and only grow to max of 8 to 10ft
tall. I always take the centre out so the branches bend downwards.
Makes life easier when you cover the tree against the blackbirds, and
then hopefully picking them.

Also height is dependant on type of soil and nutient levels etc. I am
on heavy clay with sand 2 ft below. Also dependant on variety, I use
Stella, Merton Glory and a Polish Morello


Rusty_Hinge[_2_] 09-04-2009 01:21 PM

Cherry tree on Colt rootstock
 
The message
from gray contains these words:

Gisela 5 is really only suited for dwarf potted use. Most GC's do not
stock Gisela 5 as a norm.


All the cherries I grow are on Colt and only grow to max of 8 to 10ft
tall. I always take the centre out so the branches bend downwards.
Makes life easier when you cover the tree against the blackbirds, and
then hopefully picking them.


I sometimes feel like picking them off - oh, you mean the cherries...

My mother had a weeping morello which made things easier for netting.
However, the hooters (blackbirds) usually found a way in - then couldn't
find the way out.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Also height is dependant on type of soil and nutient levels etc. I am
on heavy clay with sand 2 ft below. Also dependant on variety, I use
Stella, Merton Glory and a Polish Morello


Sounds like esturine soil...

Where I used to live on the rising ground north of the Thames flood
plain below London, there was a mixture of clay and sand, in bars and
galts. The clay was very fertile, but the sand allowed it to dry out
quite quickly in the summer (when typically unbritish...)

Good for fruit, most years though, and we had thirty-six marure fruit
trees as indicators.

--
Rusty
Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk

Jim Jackson 14-04-2009 09:34 PM

Cherry tree on Colt rootstock
 
gray wrote:
Gisela 5 is really only suited for dwarf potted use. Most GC's do not
stock Gisela 5 as a norm.


All the cherries I grow are on Colt and only grow to max of 8 to 10ft
tall. I always take the centre out so the branches bend downwards.
Makes life easier when you cover the tree against the blackbirds, and
then hopefully picking them.


Also height is dependant on type of soil and nutient levels etc. I am
on heavy clay with sand 2 ft below. Also dependant on variety, I use
Stella, Merton Glory and a Polish Morello


I have 2 cherries, Stella and Merton Bigarreau (?spelling), on colt.
They are now 20 years old and are about 8-9 feet tall and about 10-12 feet
spread. Clay soil, over yellow clay, over sandstone. I can net the trees,
which stops the birds, but it's a race to beat the wasps :-(

I don't prune much. Prune in June-ish to prevent it getting dense in the
middle, and to prune out broken brances etc. The netting (only on for a
few weeks as the cherries ripen) makes the cherry "weep", it bends down
the branches.



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