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Tropical Fruit => Tropical Fruit Discussion => Topic started by: dross99_si on August 13, 2019, 12:06:09 PM

Title: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: dross99_si on August 13, 2019, 12:06:09 PM
Hey guys,

Just got this Geffner Atemoya from a friend yesterday. As you can see the branching has started pretty low to the soil surface (maybe 5”) and it has 2 very long leaders, 1 short leader and a few scraggly branches. What exactly should we do to get this thing to grow into a proper shape? We need to start training this thing ASAP. We just put it in the Air-pot this morning with some Promix BRK 20.
Thanks!

(https://i.postimg.cc/n9jq1HC4/28-B5-C1-F4-3-D25-4746-BB8-B-C4-D1-BC2667-E4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/n9jq1HC4)

(https://i.postimg.cc/K1rBfpvH/2-C2-F9-C3-D-669-E-4982-BF21-1520-C7-ED774-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K1rBfpvH)

(https://i.postimg.cc/PLTzksRH/62-F30-AED-092-C-401-B-B515-408-E0214855-C.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/PLTzksRH)

(https://i.postimg.cc/jwkzNWdq/96241538-CBEE-4995-B12-A-6-EF0-EF48-EEF1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/jwkzNWdq)

(https://i.postimg.cc/ZW3VSLY8/A9-F0-C3-ED-B496-47-C6-B14-D-E370-FC374000.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZW3VSLY8)

(https://i.postimg.cc/67cVWjkv/B87-D0857-7-C1-C-49-DA-8-EF2-7-A50-EAC89-C46.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/67cVWjkv)

(https://i.postimg.cc/7bd3ZTWm/BBB47-C43-3927-461-C-B131-740372-E10271.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/7bd3ZTWm)

(https://i.postimg.cc/c6r7WcXv/FE9-B9056-1061-4497-B14-E-CF54-B5116-C2-B.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/c6r7WcXv)
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: pineislander on August 13, 2019, 02:25:29 PM
Looks like some very low branches. Why aren't you planting this in the ground?
I have had good luck getting branching on Atemoya by basic pruning but have also learned something new. Every branch which grows 1 foot long I break off the tip and strip 4-6 leaves away from that tip. No tool needed just fingers. Within a week or two I get 2-4 buds breaking near the tipped place. Once those grow 1 foot long I repeat. I only learned the technique this year after the tree had grown up to about 5 feet.  Using this method is quickly building a complex well branched trees. Rather strange the grower let those long low branches grow that way.
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: dross99_si on August 13, 2019, 02:35:36 PM
Looks like some very low branches. Why aren't you planting this in the ground?
I have had good luck getting branching on Atemoya by basic pruning but have also learned something new. Every branch which grows 1 foot long I break off the tip and strip 4-6 leaves away from that tip. No tool needed just fingers. Within a week or two I get 2-4 buds breaking near the tipped place. Once those grow 1 foot long I repeat. I only learned the technique this year after the tree had grown up to about 5 feet.  Using this method is quickly building a complex well branched trees. Rather strange the grower let those long low branches grow that way.

We're not putting it in ground because at the moment we live in a HOA till we build a new house, but that won't be for a few years unfortunately.
The branches ARE very low and we need to figure out what to do with this to get upright growth. Not sure if we should remove all but one of the longer leaders and attach that leader to a stake to train that branch to grow straight up and later on tip it to get lateral branching?
Or maybe not stake anything and cut each branch right after an upward facing node to get some upright growth going that way?
This is a tricky one...
Not sure why our friend topped it when it was only like 5" tall  :-\ but we need to correct this.
Thanks for replying  :)
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: spaugh on August 13, 2019, 05:48:50 PM
I would remove everything except the longest branch.  Then cut it in half and strip off 3 or 4 leaves on top.  Then stake it up vertical.

Dont tie it directly to the stake though.  Put a stake or bamboo a foot or so away and use tree tape down low on the branch to pull it upright. 

Ive got some cherimoyas Im doing the same thing with.  A lot of my avocado trees get similar treatment.  Remove branches and train it to have a vertical central leader.
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: Seanny on August 13, 2019, 11:46:31 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/v1R1n9Px/06-DEB3-D2-8-A2-B-47-F5-973-E-1-CDC7866-A85-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/v1R1n9Px)

1. Cut off small branch to make node pretty. I don’t like a crotch with 3 branches.
    That oversized leader doesn’t need help from that small branch.

2. Cut tips off the 2 largest branches, do not remove leaves, to force better growth on the other 2 small branches.

3. Tie some stakes to the outside of air pot. Tie ropes from stakes to tip of branches to pull them vertical.

I have an atemoya tree with low crotch like yours. I’m ok with it.
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: dross99_si on August 14, 2019, 08:39:17 AM
Thanks for the great suggestions everyone
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: MangoCountry on August 14, 2019, 12:35:51 PM
I would do exactly what Spaugh said 🙂
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: dross99_si on August 14, 2019, 04:59:26 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/v1R1n9Px/06-DEB3-D2-8-A2-B-47-F5-973-E-1-CDC7866-A85-F.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/v1R1n9Px)

1. Cut off small branch to make node pretty. I don’t like a crotch with 3 branches.
    That oversized leader doesn’t need help from that small branch.

2. Cut tips off the 2 largest branches, do not remove leaves, to force better growth on the other 2 small branches.

3. Tie some stakes to the outside of air pot. Tie ropes from stakes to tip of branches to pull them vertical.

I have an atemoya tree with low crotch like yours. I’m ok with it.

Do you have any pics of your tree?
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: Guanabanus on August 14, 2019, 09:23:16 PM
You could save all the growth by trellising it like a grape vine, especially if you raise the pot on a stand.  I am not being sarcastic.
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: dross99_si on August 15, 2019, 09:10:49 AM
You could save all the growth by trellising it like a grape vine, especially if you raise the pot on a stand.  I am not being sarcastic.

Thanks Har! Trellising is really not an option at out current property, but that is a great idea.
If you were to prune and stake them how would you recommend going about it with this particular plant?
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: Guanabanus on August 15, 2019, 10:18:38 AM
The branch in your right hand, in your fifth picture, can be staked vertically, with tape.  The top two pieces of tape can be placed around the branch first, and the branch twisted, to defeat the two-dimensionallity of the leaf arrangement and future branching.  [One must remove that tight tape in a very few weeks, to avoid girdling.]  Pinch off the growing tip.  About 1/3 to 1/2 the way up, where the branch is not-yet twisted, remove one large leaf from either side.  When those buds start growing side branches, remove one leaf from either side in the middle of the twisted area. 

The stronger, very low existing branches, can be staked to rise above horizontal, such as 70 or 60 degrees of arc.

In the mid-winter dormancy period, prune off branches drooping near the ground.  Having the woody bases of branches starting near the ground is great;  having a bunch of leaves and fruits near the ground is useless.
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: dross99_si on August 15, 2019, 08:29:10 PM
The branch in your right hand, in your fifth picture, can be staked vertically, with tape.  The top two pieces of tape can be placed around the branch first, and the branch twisted, to defeat the two-dimensionallity of the leaf arrangement and future branching.  [One must remove that tight tape in a very few weeks, to avoid girdling.]  Pinch off the growing tip.  About 1/3 to 1/2 the way up, where the branch is not-yet twisted, remove one large leaf from either side.  When those buds start growing side branches, remove one leaf from either side in the middle of the twisted area. 

The stronger, very low existing branches, can be staked to rise above horizontal, such as 70 or 60 degrees of arc.

In the mid-winter dormancy period, prune off branches drooping near the ground.  Having the woody bases of branches starting near the ground is great;  having a bunch of leaves and fruits near the ground is useless.

Thank you very much!
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: SoFloGringo on August 16, 2019, 05:49:41 PM
Take the best branch and stake it up.
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: Seanny on August 16, 2019, 06:48:18 PM
(https://i.postimg.cc/QKgwHQ1c/99914-B38-1126-4-CE7-ABFD-3-D4-DA1-EB73-F5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/QKgwHQ1c)

I like to tie fiberglass rods to the outside of air-pot to train my trees.


(https://i.postimg.cc/4HsFkCtg/AF6-C8-C1-D-C779-4-CC0-B152-96-E117-DBD1-A0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4HsFkCtg)

The left branch is smaller than right, due to failed graft.
It used to be 1/2 the size of the right.


(https://i.postimg.cc/64TzNCz9/C6-E99-FFF-5-E36-4-FB0-8-BF8-43817-EDCE875.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/64TzNCz9)


I cut tips off the new shoots on the right branches. I keep only 9 leaves.
I cut tips off the new shoots on left branches in mid June.
I let new shoots grow, to increase the size of the left branch.
I’m expecting the left branch to be same size of right branch by end of this year.

Atemoya grow well in my yard.
They get bigger every day.
I don’t salvage every branches nor leaves.
I pinch tips and remove branches and leaves often.
I’m more interested in maintaining my atemoya to 4’6, than to get big trees for high productions.

If you like to use ladders, go ahead and train a branch for central leader.
Your tree will be 10’ tall next year.
Title: Re: Help us shape our new Atemoya
Post by: MotherofDragons on August 18, 2019, 10:00:50 AM
Lots of great tips on here! Making mental notes for when I have to start training my Cherimoyas.