A fruit tree left to its own devices will produce a useful crop, but it has long been known that careful training of the tree can enhance productivity. Training techniques have evolved in two different directions - to maximise production in commercial orchards, and to meet the more diverse needs (productive and aesthetic) of gardeners and fruit enthusiasts. This website is primarily concerned with the latter.
Types of trained fruit tree
The vast majority of trained or restricted fruit tree forms involve maintaining the tree in just two dimensions, instead of the three dimensions typical of a fruit tree left to its own devices.
The 2-dimensional forms provide a striking ornamental effect in the garden, while taking up relatively little space.
- Step-over
- Belgian fence
- Palmette oblique
- U-cordon
- Fan
- Espalier
Which species of fruit trees can be trained?
Apples and pears have the greatest potential for being trained in numerous ornate forms. This is for several reasons:
- The way they grow and fruit (usually on short fruting spurs).
- They can tolerate extensive pruning cuts.
- The finished form can easily be maintained by summer pruning.
The stone fruits (Plums, Damsons, Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines) can also be trained very successfully, but their natural vigour, and susceptibility to diseases introduced through pruning cuts mean that they are best suited to fan-training. We recommend you do not try to train stone fruits as espaliers or cordons.
Quinces and Medlars also make attractive fans, and fan-training enhances the ornamental features of these species.
Why train a fruit tree?
There are two main reasons for training fruit trees:
- To provide a formal feature in the garden
- To improve fruit flavour and quality
The potential for improved fruit quality from train trees comes from the fact that their productivity is restricted - in effect, the flavour potential of the tree is concentrated into a fewer number of fruits, which therefore each get a bigger share of the resources the tree can provide. In addition, because much of the leaf-area of the tree is removed, the fruits ripen in full sunlight, which also helps improve the flavour, as well as the colour and appearance of the fruit.
Which types of trained fruit trees do you supply?
The most versatile trees we supply are our "starter" apple and pear espaliers. These trees have had the crucial initial training to produce a flat branched shape. However their mature form is still completely open to interpretation - you can choose whether to train the tree on as a traditional espalier with the arms at right angles, or as a palmette with the arms at an oblique angle, or as a Y-shaped fan, or as a U-cordon.
We also supply a range of stone fruit "starter" fans. Again these can be trained on in various forms.
Click here to see images of the trained trees we supply.
Things to consider when choosing trained fruit trees
- When choosing be sure to select the correct mature size - young trees tend to look quite similar in size since the dwarfing effect of the rootstock is not yet apparent.
- Stone fruit species (plums, damsons, peaches, apricots etc.) tend to be much larger than pome fruit species (apples and pears) when they are young, but the apples and pears will catch up.
- It is generally not a good idea to mix species in your planting, because even within our 'Small' or 'Large' size categories there is a considerable variation between species.
- Within our 'Large' category, if you want the biggest possible mature size then choose the large dessert fan-trained cherries. Large fan-trained plums and fan-trained pears will not be far behind.
- Conversely, if you want a small fan or espalier, our small apple espaliers will be the best choice, or apple or pear step-overs.
- These are representative images. The size and level of development will vary considerably from variety to variety.
- Different varieties can also look very different, even when trained the same way. For example a fan-trained Cox apple tree will have far more shoots than a fan-trained Bramley.
Why are there so many French terms for trained fruit trees?
The terminology of trained trees includes many French terms, because of the long-standing tradition of training fruit trees in France.
The "potager", the productive fruit and vegetable garden, has existed in France for hundreds of years. Although it started out as the simple kitchen garden of the working classes, by the Middle Ages almost every French chateau or stately home had one. Even King Louis XIV, the Sun King, had a potager at Versailles - although, at 30 acres, his was somewhat larger and more elaborate than most.
These aristocratic potagers were not simply about food production - just as much attention was paid to the visual design of the planting, to complement the formal design of the stately chateau that it supplied. Whereas in England the traditional cottage garden gets its appeal from its relaxed informality, the potager became an increasingly formal affair. The fashion developed for training fruit trees into ever more exotic formal shapes, to provide pattern and order to the production of fruit. As a result nearly all the trained forms we use today are of French origin - there is often no Anglo-Saxon equivalent.