Apples and pears in small spaces
IF you’ve a leaning towards cramming as many edible plants in your garden as you can, then read on... Apples and pears grown in small spaces are a bonus for small plots and are given fancy names such as ‘cordon’, ‘espalier’ or ‘stepover’ which refers to their specific shape.
All rely on the fact that a framework of main stems will produce sideshoots, and these sideshoots will bear fruit. As summer romps forward these shoots will also throw up long, whippy growths and to keep your tree compact it’s essential to prune them back to 4-5in (10-13cm) long.
Simultaneously, if you have lots of young apple and pear trees, this is a key time to develop their shape. Tie in any of the new growth to build up your framework of branches.