Fans are an attractive form of growing fruit. A fan tree is trained with two branches trained at a 40° angle, approximately 30cm (12in) above the ground.
The following details are suitable for establishing most types of fruit as a fan, including peaches, plums, apricots cherries and figs.
Year 1
To train a fan from a feathered maiden tree, select two healthy
laterals 30cm (12in) from the ground and remove the leader
above the top lateral. Prune each of the laterals to 38cm
(15in), to stimulate sub-laterals and tie to canes attached
to the wires at 40°. Prune back other laterals to one bud.
In summer select two equally spaced shoots on the upper side of each branch and one from below to form the ‘ribs’. Tie these in to canes at 30°. Choose a shoot to continue the main laterals and pinch back other shoots to one leaf , removing any badly placed shoots.
Year 2
Before bud burst, cut back extension growth on main arms by one quarter to a strong bud. In early summer continue to tie in selected shoots to fill in the framework, using further canes. Pinch out weak shoots, remove over vigorous shoots and any facing inwards or outwards.
Year 3
Shorten new ribs by a quarter in early spring. Select further shoots to complete the main ribs. Thin sideshoots to 10-15cm (4-6in) apart choosing those naturally growing in line with the fan. Remove any shoots growing in the wrong direction. As the framework branches fill out cut back any overlapping shoots to four to six leaves.