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  • In reply to a question from @edmundro re supporting espaliered or cordoned fruit.

    From what I understand, concrete is strictly verboten for anchoring posts on allotments, so:

    Dig postholes at least 2'/60cm deep, using the post digger, post borer or trenching spade of your choice, aim for about 6"/15 cm diameter. Drop a 4"/100mm chestnut post centrally in the hole, hold the post upright and ram the dirt from the hole around the post HARD. A broom handle or sledgehammer handle is ideal for this purpose. Allow about 1.5m out of the ground for soft fruits, rather more for stone fruits or apples/pears. 2m between posts is fine, adjust any intermediates to fit. 3"/75mm diameter chestnut is plenty for intermediates. For taller posts, a section of a post cut at 45 degrees and attached to the inside of the post and into the ground will stop the posts from pulling inwards under tension from the wires. When fixing the wires, wrap the wire around the end post and staple it. Attach a tension adjuster (see below) to the other end post, loop the wire through the adjuster and twist it back on itself, then twist the adjuster until the tension is as you want it (start the adjuster at the extremity of the threads). A pair of pliers and Park Tool cable cutters helps.

    Allow 1.5m between rows for soft fruits, 2m at least between stone fruits or apples/pears. Chestnut posts should last 15 years or so.

    Hope this helps someone!

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