Pinching Technique Could Help Ambrosia Establish

Ontario growers’ investment in new apple acreage is considerable and a few cultivars stand out as far as their looks go after they have been in the ground for at least one growing season. Ambrosia is relatively easy to pick out because of its’ looks early after planting. This cultivar sends out a profusion of branches along it’s axis near the top of the tree.

It can be described as a very tight looking, brushy growth habit that makes the tree appear to be stalling out before limbs start to break and shoot out at their familiar acute branch angles and before any limb positioning occurs.

Some of these breaks are in close proximity to the tree leader and probably keep the leader from stretching out because they compete directly with the leader of the tree.

The leader can be released by pinching out competing shoots near the tip. This could be especially important where a more rapid establishment of the tree is desirable.

In the photo below (Figure 1) you can see what appears to be competing shoots at the top of the tree. Two or 3 of those shoots have been pinched out and/or broken off to allow the leader to play a more dominant role and to escape. Ultimately this technique will help trees establish quicker and to produce fruit in a shorter period of time. Branches can either be tied or positioned to flatter angles using positioning clips, or perhaps clothes pegs.

Figure 1. A competing shoot has been broken out off the main axis just below the tree leader. This technique helps with tree establishment.

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