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Deciding on a Production System
Cost
Generally, cost of trees in the long run is a small part of production costs. The big expense is in the labor required for early training and pruning. This expense should decrease over time, but the higher the density, the greater the labor requirements. A good rule of thumb is "the more intensive, the more expensive."
Spacing
For optimal production, it is necessary to make best use of the surface area of available land. Spacing that is too wide makes for inefficient planting, while spacing that is too narrow means that excessive labor will be needed to contain trees in their allotted spaces. Once a production system is worked out, spacing is determined by cultivar to be planted, rootstock, soil vigor, and slope.
"Plantsmanship"
Any given production system will be only as good as the grower's ability to manipulate the trees. The more intensive the system, the more growers or their workers must be familiar with how trees grow. There is less room for error in high-density production.
Labor requirements
A high-density orchard requires greater management skills; it also requires that labor be spread over a longer time period. Pruning must be done in both winter and summer. Because tree size is smaller, production becomes more efficient. Brains and nimbleness replace the need for brute strength, allowing greater flexibility in the labor you can hire. High-density orchards also make it easier for fewer people to take care of more trees, but in a smaller area.
- There is no perfect production system. You need to develop your own style and a production system that suits your abilities, growing conditions, and chosen cultivars.
- High density does not necessarily mean greater yields. It is very possible to achieve 1,000 bushels per acre on well-managed, standard trees. However, it takes more years to reach full production capacity with standard trees than with dwarf trees.
- Yields and dollar returns do not always occur more quickly in high-density production. Mismanaging a high-density system in the early years can delay fruiting and production. Since the purpose of high-density plantings is to have early production, anything that delays early production will delay returns.
Finally, do not pass judgment on a particular system without adjusting all the factors.
Too often, growers give up on a system because they have tried to handle it the way they handle all their other systems. Make allowances for different row spacings to accommodate smaller equipment.