How do I fan-train a peach tree against a wall?

Fan training is the ideal way to grow peach and nectarine in the UK and similar temperate climates. A south- or south-west-facing wall provides warmth, shelter, and a flat plane on which to spread the branches, maximising sun exposure to every leaf and fruit. A well-built fan will produce reliable crops for decades and is far easier to protect from frost and disease than a free-standing tree.

Setting up the support system

Before planting, install horizontal wires on the wall at 30–40 cm intervals from 40 cm above the ground up to the top of the available space. Use 3 mm galvanised wire tensioned with vine eyes and straining bolts, keeping the wire 10 cm clear of the wall surface to allow air circulation behind the branches. The fan will eventually be tied to these wires with soft twine or adjustable plastic ties.

Year one: establishing the first two arms

Plant a young maiden tree (a one-year-old single stem) in late winter against the wall. In the first spring, allow only two shoots to develop — one on each side at approximately 45 degrees to the vertical. Pinch out or rub off all other shoots as they appear. Tie these two laterals to canes fixed to the wires at the desired angle. By the end of summer, you should have two strong arms forming the foundation of the fan.

Year two: building the ribs

In year two, allow two shoots to develop from each of the first-year arms — one from the top and one from the side — giving you a total of four main framework branches. Tie these in at even angles across the wall to spread the fan. Remove shoots growing directly towards or away from the wall. The framework branches should now span approximately 1.5 metres of wall width.

Year three onwards: fruiting management

Once the main framework is established, switch focus to fruiting management. Each spring, new lateral shoots grow along the framework branches. Allow one shoot every 10–15 cm to grow outward, and one replacement shoot at the base of each fruiting lateral for the following year. After fruiting, cut the fruited lateral back to the replacement shoot. This renewal pruning — carried out in late summer after harvest — is the heart of peach fan management.

Tying in and keeping the fan open

Throughout summer, tie new shoots to the wires as they grow, spreading them evenly across the wall so no area is shaded by another. Remove any shoots growing directly out from the wall or crossing others. Rub off buds growing towards the wall while they are still small — these are impossible to tie in and will only create congestion.