Trained fruit – in pictures

Single cordons like these pears are the simplest form of fruit tree training. Cordons are great for small gardens as they take up so little space. Photograph: Kate Gadsby/Getty

Now is the ideal time of year for planting new fruit trees for training. Here apple 'Coeur de Boeuf' and redcurrants have been planted for cordons. Photograph: Anne Gilbert/Alamy

Cordons can also be grown at an angle, like these 'Rajka' apples. Photograph: Claire Higgins/Getty

Gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants and whitecurrants (pictured) are ideal for training against a shady wall. Photograph: Richtradition/Alamy

Step-overs feature a short stem with two horizontal 'arms', low to the ground and are great for edging borders or creating boundaries, like this 'Merton Russet' apple. Photograph: Claire Higgins/Getty

Espaliered apples can be trained against a sunny wall or grown freestanding, supported by a system of wires, like this variety, 'Rosemary Russet'. Photograph: Claire Higgins/Getty

Pears grown against in a sunny, sheltered spot will remain productive for many years. Here, the popular variety 'Conference' is espaliered against a fence. Photograph: Claire Higgins/Getty

Pears can also be espaliered freestanding with a series of supports, like this 'Doyenne du Comice' tree. Photograph: Claire Higgins/Getty

An espaliered fig tree is ideal for training against a sunny wall. Pictured in winter, this tree shows the tiered outline of an espalier-trained tree. Photograph: Howard Rice/Getty

Peach trees can be protected from the disease peach leaf curl if trained against a wall, like this variety 'Rochester'. Photograph: Claire Higgins/Getty

Use an archway of trained apples to frame a path or entrance. Photograph: Claire Higgins/Getty