The Internet's Finest Tropical Fruit Discussion Forum!"All discussion content within the forum reflects the views of the individual participants and does not necessarily represent the views held by the Tropical Fruit Forum as an organization."
I just bought a Kari that is almost 10' tall, but with a diameter far less than an inch. Probably 1/2" at most. It is wispy up top with lots of new growth from 6'-10' but with no foliage or branches below. Is it ok to top it? Is that recommended? I can't fathom any of the branches holding even a single fruit. It's about 5' wide between the branches at its widest. Shaped like a T. I'll get a photo of it later.
Quote from: K-Rimes on October 21, 2019, 03:45:50 PMI just bought a Kari that is almost 10' tall, but with a diameter far less than an inch. Probably 1/2" at most. It is wispy up top with lots of new growth from 6'-10' but with no foliage or branches below. Is it ok to top it? Is that recommended? I can't fathom any of the branches holding even a single fruit. It's about 5' wide between the branches at its widest. Shaped like a T. I'll get a photo of it later.In Florida they can be very vigorous and can be pruned back severely every year. They bear along newer branches and also off older wood. Sounds like the grower had the tree in a shaded environment and it was reaching for sun. I acn't say about your climate since you are heading into winter it may not grow much and may flush a lot when it warms in spring. You have to imagine what you want in a few years when doing formative pruning. Carambola tends to send up long branches which arch especially when loaded with fruit. If those braches begin too low lots of fruit will go down to the ground. To me the ideal shaped Carambola tree will have a long lived permanent framework 4-6 feet high with a replaceable arching set of bearing branches. So, after planting you would want to build those first scaffold branches and in seasona after that choose to prune at the 4-6 ft level so that the new branches which flush there will flower. Once you have those branches growing out 3-4 feet bend them by hand until you can hear them 'crackle' a little, then tip the branch. This stress will result in flowering within a few weeks. What I am describing is what I've been watching at the largest commercial Carambola farm around, you can see lots of pictures over time of what they do here: http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=29381.msg331892#msg331892
Chop it hard and as low as possible while preserving the thickest parts of the scion.
Not many trees enjoy the chop as much as carambola and if it is a grafted one or not you can keep it below 6 feet.Shade grown trees want to be tall but you just have to show it who's boss.Yes cut the spindly and whispy growth.