For years I've been intrigued with intensive apple orchard systems I see in local orchards when I pass by, specifically the Tall Spindle system. So this year I thought I would give it a try. Assuming you start with two year stock, it is possible to get a small yield the second year. And being done with raspberries, renovating that bed for a small trial seemed like a good strategy.
Even though you don't do much to the trees the first year other than drip irrigation and bug control, this is a very intensive system requiring a lot of training and pruning in subsequent years.
For this small plot I went with Ginger Gold, Macoun, Winecrisp and Dandee Red. This is a good mix both for cross-pollination and a broad ripening window. All of these are grafted onto G11 dwarf root stock as only dwarf trees are compatible with the Tall Spindle system. And luckily we have one of the premier nurseries just up the road who supply quality bare root stock to commercial orchards and the backyard hobby farmer.
I'll let these get established for a few months and then start building the trellis.
