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I've noticed a pattern in other people's fruit orchards.

They take two massive steaks, and tie (spelling?) wire between them.

But why?

Is the intention to train the tree/bush along the horizontal wire?

But that wouldn't benefit anyone....it would just look silly.

Could some kind self-sufficientish explain this pattern to me? I must be missing something which you only get if you buy the rulebook.

I always was a cheapskate...

Monty wrote:They take two massive steaks, and tie (spelling?) wire between them.

But why?

Hmmmm, attracting dogs/foxes/human carnivores?

Seriously, I don't actually know what you are describing other than training certain types of fruit trees in espalier shape. Maybe? Not normally done on a commercial basis, is it?

Yes, my spelling is abominable.

I mean stakes, as in huge pillars of wood hammered into the ground for support. You know, like you stake a tree so it doesn't fall over....

Probably a form of tree support.. have noticed some like that but using a wooden post between the two... perhaps more stable and won't disturb the roots like some of the traditional supports might.

Some fruit trees can be trained to grow along long horizontal wires. Not sure if this is what you are describing, and I'm not sure why it is done - possibly for extra support for the thin branches, or maybe for ease of picking the fruit.

Raspberries are trained like that, too.

Espaliered apples usually have 2 or 3 rows of wire, step-over apples are low growing with one wire. The reasons for training fruit trees like this is for ease of picking and pruning, I think.

Then there are fruit trees such as apricots and peaches which are often grown against a wall (south facing) and trained in shapes such as fans. The wall protects the tree and maximises the heat that the (often a bit tender) fruit tree receives.

It is possible that what you are seeing is something for holding up netting over the tops of the trees? I've seen something like that, like an open sided fruit cage. Somewhere - possibly Switzerland!

Most of our fruit is trained along wires between posts (not stakes, we prefer to eat them).

The apple and pear trees are espaliered in 6 tiers in a row 30' long by 2' wide by 8' high.
Much easier to prune and pick than bush trees!
But it didn't work for the plums.

Tayberries, raspberries and blackberries are all trained along wires.

Gooseberries and redcurrants have posts and wires 4' high.
But blackcurrants won't be trained.

Every year I set up posts and netting for the peas.
After 20 years about 4 peas have germinated.

Selby wrote:Most of our fruit is trained along wires between posts (not stakes, we prefer to eat them).

You must have extraordinarily strong teeth.