Author Topic: Soursop - Single or split trunk?  (Read 3817 times)

shafak

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Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« on: April 20, 2016, 08:02:11 AM »
I have a few saplings of soursop.  Out of these some have a single trunk like the one in the left and others have split trunks (right).  Should I be bothered?  Is one better than the other?  If yes, which one?  Thank you.



johnb51

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2016, 08:55:02 AM »
Interesting.  Single truck might give you taller, stronger tree?  Split trunk wider, shorter tree?  I don't know if there is a definitive answer to which one is better.
John

LivingParadise

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2016, 10:04:13 AM »
If you are willing to support the split trunk so it doesn't break over time with the burden of fruit, I personally would go for the split, because I feel like it brings the possibility of more fruit, and theoretically could make twice the number of branches. Plus, it might be more interesting looking. But if you are not pressed for space, I would of course think it is best to keep them all! :)

skhan

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2016, 10:11:44 AM »
I don't know if tipping is recommended for soursop but i did anyways.
I got a small angle between the two branches and the both basically remained vertical. (same thing happened with my Malay apple)

I tried training one to go more horizontal and the truck just split, I applied very little force, I was pretty shocked how easy it was to split.
The tree is still alive though, I'm just going to let it do its own thing now.

johnb51

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2016, 11:18:14 AM »
I don't know if tipping is recommended for soursop but i did anyways.
I got a small angle between the two branches and the both basically remained vertical.

I had the same experience.
John

shafak

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2016, 12:04:34 PM »
Thanks for the replies, everyone.  BTW, I forgot to ask a crucial question in my OP.  This is my first time growing soursop, so which one is normal and which one abnormal?  From the above replies, it would seem the split stem is abnormal, right?  Out of the many soursop seedlings, I have quite a few split ones.   

I don't know if tipping is recommended for soursop but i did anyways.
I got a small angle between the two branches and the both basically remained vertical. (same thing happened with my Malay apple)

Also, what is tipping?

gnappi

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2016, 12:11:24 PM »
I personally do not like split trunks, I've had them split in the crotch and what is left is misshapen.
Regards,

   Gary

gunnar429

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2016, 12:28:45 PM »
Thanks for the replies, everyone.  BTW, I forgot to ask a crucial question in my OP.  This is my first time growing soursop, so which one is normal and which one abnormal?  From the above replies, it would seem the split stem is abnormal, right?  Out of the many soursop seedlings, I have quite a few split ones.   

I don't know if tipping is recommended for soursop but i did anyways.
I got a small angle between the two branches and the both basically remained vertical. (same thing happened with my Malay apple)

Also, what is tipping?

Tipping is the practice of cutting off the terminal buds of all the branches.  One only cuts off the very tip to encourage branching.
~Jeff

"Say you just can't live that negative way, if you know what I mean. Make way for the positive day." - Positive Vibration

shafak

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2016, 01:06:50 PM »
Any reason why a lot of my seedlings split?  I haven't performed any tipping on any of the seedlings. 

Tipping is the practice of cutting off the terminal buds of all the branches.  One only cuts off the very tip to encourage branching.

Thanks for the explanation, gunnar. 

joaave

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2016, 01:17:29 PM »
Single......then cut the head to promove lateral growth.

tallman

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2016, 07:43:34 PM »
single

pineislander

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2016, 10:45:07 PM »
Watch this video by a professional soursop grower who has 1000 trees in production. if possible, get a Spanish speaker to translate. Note his techniques for pruning the trees very carefully to maintain scaffold branches and limit growth, maintain air flow, and fight insects. Also note the huge results he gets. There is a lot to learn here:
 http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=18436.msg230209#msg230209

TheDom

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2016, 11:27:33 PM »
Way to add to the multitude of reasons I need to learn Spanish. Maybe knowing it can further my fruit addiction will help me to actually learn some this time. That's a heck of a video, absolutely lots to learn there.
Dom

shafak

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2018, 02:57:25 PM »
Interesting.  Single truck might give you taller, stronger tree?  Split trunk wider, shorter tree?  I don't know if there is a definitive answer to which one is better.

UPDATE

John,

Your theory was right.  The single trunk ones have all grown taller, while this split trunk one is only about half the height of the former.

You can see both types of my plant in this thread:

http://tropicalfruitforum.com/index.php?topic=28363.0

Single trunk - fruited first


Split trunk - fruited second

pineislander

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #14 on: June 13, 2018, 07:58:36 PM »
Soursop is a very unique tree. They tend to grow vertically. If left to their own form that puts large fruit out of reach and hand pollination difficult. In my opinion fast fruiting is a secondary consideration, I'm looking farther into the future when I can harvest a dozen or more. I have six trees which were tipped at 2-3 ft. and I'm training them to be more horizontal using weights. It seems to be working, soon I'll make a video to show the results.

This fellow in Queensland explains how he is using trellising on soursop and some of his pro/con experiences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT5AeoPAJI4

pineislander

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #15 on: June 25, 2018, 07:49:24 PM »
here's the video showing my trained soursop trees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmQ-KbLBMfI

Seanny

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #16 on: June 25, 2018, 10:05:31 PM »
Video unavailable.

pineislander

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #17 on: June 25, 2018, 10:46:33 PM »
Video unavailable.
Ah, thanks for letting me know. I've changed the privacy settings and it should be up for anyone now.

OCchris1

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Re: Soursop - Single or split trunk?
« Reply #18 on: June 26, 2018, 02:50:31 AM »
That looks great! I love that space you have. Chris
-Chris