Although trees can be grown, with success, on full size rootstock, they are much easier to control and provide much earlier yields on dwarfing stock. In trials in Oregon, Gisela 6 has provided these yields with an easily manageable tree. Unlike the Vogel Spindle, precocity of the Spanish Bush systems is achieved primarily from the precocious rootstocks and the dense plantings and not from the system of pruning itself. Typically in Spain, trees are planted 6 feet x 12 feet apart. The Spanish Bush system is dissimilar from the Vogel system in many respects.
Trees are pruned hard the first two years and early tree vigor is encouraged.
In Spain, by the end of the second year the tree structure is formed and pruning and tree growth is discouraged to aid production. Head whip 12 to 24 inches above the ground after bud break. Be sure four to five buds exist below the cut. Multiple branches will grow from these buds. Leave shoots eight to 12 inches long.