Orchards

[Andy Collins]

Any orchard growers looked at the Super Spindle System, or indeed operating it, has it been advantageous for you, and are there any hidden (unforeseen) issues? I think the benefit of the higher yields from an early stage must be beneficial. Given the closer spacings does this create other problems?

[WeeDee]

What's the 'Super spindle system'?

[Andy Collins]

In the late eighties the first Super Spindle orchards were developed in the Bodensee region of Germany. This system utilizes super high tree densities to obtain the expected attributes of high and early yields, less manual work, less chemical input, high picking output resulting in low production cost per man hour of labor and the possibility to introduce quickly new valuable varieties into the market. Under practical conditions a Super Spindle orchard is determined by its plant density with a row spacing of less than 3 m and a tree distance within the row of less than 0.8 m, giving a density of more than 4,000 trees per hectare. A survey of apple production in the Bodensee region showed from 1990 to 1994 an increase of Super Spindle plantings especially with Gala and Braeburn. However by 1998 average tree density dropped down to a density of 3,527 trees per ha. A field comparison of the Super Spindle system with the traditional Slender Spindle system showed a tree density 3.27 times higher for the Super Spindle orchard but an annual average yield from the 4th to the 7th years of only 1.29 higher than the Slender Spindle system. The Super spindle system has a small negative influence on fruit color. Fruit size of the Super Spindle system was 18 g smaller than Slender Spindle trees. An economic analysis of the Super Spindle systems showed that despite the substantial higher investment risk at planting time, the Super Spindle system reaches a breakeven point one year earlier (leaf 4) than the Slender Spindle system. The annual cash-flow of the Super Spindle orchard in leaf 10 was 2306 Euro per ha higher than the Slender Spindle orchard. This was due to higher average yield capacity, higher picking output and lower tree management cost.s Growing a Super Spindle orchard is especially interesting, when moving into an economic friendly market situation with a new high priced variety, using non skilled labor, large fruit sized and non biennial bearing varieties and dwarf rootstocks. (Copied text)

[WeeDee]

I did ask, didn't I!

 

The reason I asked was because my brother-in-law has recently changed some of his orchard land over to a system that seems very much like the one described above. From what I gather, it does seem to have had more benefits than problems. If you'd like, I'll talk to him and report back with pros and cons. It might be tomorrow though before I talk to him.

 

Dee