Fruit trees can be planted very close in high density planting. There are many ways to plant in a limited space and will depend on the desired look of the orchard. Multiple trees planted close together in the same hole. Trees planted close together to practice a hedge. Trees trained as an espalier to grow along a narrow area. To evaluate the potential offered by high density planting application, it is necessary to take into account tree size control, and also the training system most suitable to obtain high crop yield and good fruit quality. The main tools for tree size control are rootstocks, summer pruning, root restriction, growth regulators. Also, the main Peach-growing countries of the world, to investigate the extent of utilization and the main aspects characterizing Peach and nectarine HDP orchards, are summarized.
The training systems for HDP are Fusetto, Tatura trellis with their interaction with soil fertility. Fusetto allows a maximum planting density of 1200-1500 trees per hectare. It is necessary to adopt some training systems in extremely fertile soil. The first alternative (palmette) allows maximum planting densities of about 700-900 trees/ha. For orchards with planting densities greater than 1000-1500 trees/ha, the Tatura trellis and its variants appear the most appropriate. The right choice of training system will have to be made based on careful economic analysis, taking into account the greater costs involved for the establishment and also for the management of HDP.
