The Open Tatura system was developed at the Tatura Research Station in Victoria for growing high–chill temperate fruits such as peach and apple. It's time to move on.
Rows for the Open Tatura are spaced 4.5 to 5 m wide from centre to centre, and each pole is set at an angle of 22.5 degrees to the vertical (see Figure 1); the angle of the V is 45 degrees.
In some systems the angle is increased up to 60 degrees. Poles are 3 m long with about 2.3 m protruding from the ground.
The maximum height of the canopy in summer is 2.7 m (60% of row width measured vertically).
The trees are planted about 3 m apart in a diamond shape, alternating left and right.
Moving on
The open V-trellis is a good system but time has moved on.
Hand thinning and pruning costs are higher than when that system was introduced.
Modern orchards
Economically sustainable orchard systems need to be suitable for 3-row sprayers, platforms, mechanical pruners, root pruners, thinners and harvesters.
Modern orchards should be simple, accessible and productive.
In my opinion, new plantings of peach and nectarine trees should form a fruiting wall with trees planted at a distance of 2.7 to 3.3 m and poles 3.5 to 4 m high.
The first wire should be at 60 cm from ground level, and the others spaced at 40 cm intervals above the first wire.
Contact Marcel, mobile 0439 751 299
e-mail
www.marcelveens.com.au
For the full set of photos, see Tree Fruit September 2013
