What yokes should I use?

When you start planting an orchard, you naturally have a cultivation system in mind. Over the years, countless cultivation systems have been invented. Each cultivation system requires its own support materials and specifications. Would you like to know more about cultivation systems? Click here to read.

Several growing systems are straight hedges and only have a few wires with bamboo canes if necessary. But the V hedge, table system or other yoke systems need more than just support steel wire. These systems also include yokes.

And in this blog, I want to discuss yokes in more detail. Some different types of yokes and also the use of these yokes.

The table system

A table system is a simple form of a yoke system. Table systems are often seen on spindle-shaped trees. In the table system, 1 yoke is used.

This yoke is placed between 70 - 100 centimetres from the ground. This table system can be mounted in different widths. Yokes of 40, 60 and 85 centimetres are commonly used widths.

Different yokes are used for intermediate and end posts. An end yoke is a heavier type, as the support wire is tensioned on this. Or it is led under tension towards the anchor. End yokes are often L-shaped yokes, while intermediate yokes are often straight yokes.

The yokes are mounted on each support post. The yokes can also be mounted to hail net posts.

Steel wire is mounted on both sides of the yoke. Often another steel wire is also mounted in the middle along the pole. Watering hoses and drip hoses are mounted to this single wire.

V- hedge system

A V-hedge system is a more complex yoke system than the table system.

The V-haag is mainly seen with pear plantings. V hedges are also possible for cherries and apples. With cherries, more than 2 yokes are often used.

A V-hedge system consists of a structure of 2 yokes.
The upper and lower yokes differ in this. In both type and width.
The upper yoke is usually at least 100 centimetres. And at the bottom, a 60- or 85-centimetre yoke is then used. So that the V-shape of support wires and bamboo canes can be made.

For the V hedge system, heavier yokes are used than for a table system. Thus, the top yoke often contains an additional diagonal reinforcement. Due to its length, the yoke can bend faster; this is prevented with the reinforcement. The lower yoke can be the same as another yoke system, but often a stronger yoke is also used here. For example, a U-yoke.

The V-hay can be mounted on both short posts and long concrete posts. The end yokes also contain the tensioners to tension and anchor the support wires to the anchors.

The V hedge is often deployed with bamboo (tonkin) canes. The branches are bent into the V-shape by means of the bamboo canes.

Parts for yokes

Suppose you want to use yokes in your cultivation. Then pay close attention to the accessories for the yokes.

These are the fastening brackets. Different fixing brackets are used for wooden and concrete posts. But different brackets are also used for steel posts, of a canopy. Make sure that the hole pattern of the yokes matches the brackets, so that you order the right brackets and do not have any problems during assembly.

Would you also like to know more about bamboo canes and support wires. We have also written 2 blogs on this subject. Click here for more about bamboo canes or click here for more on support wires.