GARDEN
COLUMN FOR THE
Darrell
Blackwelder
May
2, 2003
The overwhelming amount of fruit hanging from fruit trees has backyard
orchardists buzzing with excitement. Months from now, if not properly managed,
the fruit of apple, peach and pear trees may be a disappointment.
Lack of late frosts has blessed homeowners with a heavy set of tree
fruits. This ample setting of fruit
is unfortunately a problem if not properly thinned.
Apple, peach and pear trees can easily be thinned now. Over production of
blooms is natures insurance against late frosts.
Fruit trees can loose 90 percent of the blooms in the spring and still
have an appreciable crop.
Thinning heavily fruited trees prevents unnecessary limb breakage due to
excessive weight. Removing the
excessive fruit will enhance the taste, color, size and quality of the remaining
fruit left on the tree. Properly thinned fruit trees allow additional sunlight
to penetrate the tree canopy, necessary for carbohydrate production for the next
season's fruit set. Un-thinned fruit trees consume excessive amounts of stored
carbohydrates, reducing the bloom for the following crop.
The tree reverts to a condition called "biennial bearing" or
alternate bearing. The condition is characterized by the tree producing a heavy
crop one season, and a small or no crop the following year.
Alternate bearing is common condition with apples and pears.
Tree fruits require 35-50 healthy leaves per fruit for normal
development. It is important to note that these leaves must be healthy for the
duration of the growing period.
Apples, peaches and pears should be thinned 4 to 6 inches apart. A good
rule of thumb is to leave space for one fruit to fit between each side of your
hand.
Be careful when removing small fruit from spur type apple and pear trees.
Spur type trees produce buds that bare fruit from the same spur each
year. Fruiting spurs are easily
damaged or removed during the thinning process.
Diseased, damaged, or misshapen fruit obviously should be removed first.
Mature apple and pear trees may be difficult to thin because of the
height. Commercial producers will
use straps tied to poles or plastic toy baseball bats to beat the fruit off the
tree. These methods should be used as a last resort in thinning.
Fruit trees have a natural thinning period during the growing season.
This natural thinning occurs too late in the season and does not correct
the problem with over supply of fruit. Fruit thinning must be done now.
Maintain a rigorous spray schedule for tree fruits.
Healthy, disease-free leaves are essential for good quality fruit.
Contact the Cooperative Extension at 704-633-0571 if you need information
on spray schedules or the schedule is found online at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/Fruit/fdin002/fdin002.htm
Darrell
Blackwelder is an agricultural agent in charge of horticulture with the North
Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in
GARDEN COLUMN FOR THE SALISBURY POST
Darrell Blackwelder
May 2, 2003
The overwhelming amount of fruit
hanging from fruit trees has backyard orchardists buzzing with excitement.
Months from now, if not properly managed, the fruit of apple, peach and pear
trees may be a disappointment.
Lack of late frosts has blessed homeowners with a heavy set
of tree fruits. This ample setting of fruit is unfortunately a problem if not
properly thinned. Apple, peach and pear trees can easily be thinned now. Over
production of blooms is natures insurance against late frosts. Fruit trees can
loose 90 percent of the blooms in the spring and still have an appreciable crop.
Thinning heavily fruited trees prevents unnecessary limb
breakage due to excessive weight. Removing the excessive fruit will enhance the
taste, color, size and quality of the remaining fruit left on the tree. Properly
thinned fruit trees allow additional sunlight to penetrate the tree canopy,
necessary for carbohydrate production for the next season's fruit set.
Un-thinned fruit trees consume excessive amounts of stored carbohydrates,
reducing the bloom for the following crop. The tree reverts to a condition
called "biennial bearing" or alternate bearing. The condition is
characterized by the tree producing a heavy crop one season, and a small or no
crop the following year. Alternate bearing is common condition with apples and
pears.
Tree fruits require 35-50 healthy leaves per fruit for normal development. It is
important to note that these leaves must be healthy for the duration of the
growing period.
Apples, peaches and pears should be thinned 4 to 6 inches
apart. A good rule of thumb is to leave space for one fruit to fit between each
side of your hand. Be careful when removing small fruit from spur type apple and
pear trees. Spur type trees produce buds that bare fruit from the same spur each
year. Fruiting spurs are easily damaged or removed during the thinning process.
Diseased, damaged, or misshapen fruit obviously should be removed first.
Mature apple and pear trees may be difficult to thin because
of the height. Commercial producers will use straps tied to poles or plastic toy
baseball bats to beat the fruit off the tree. These methods should be used as a
last resort in thinning. Fruit trees have a natural thinning period during the
growing season. This natural thinning occurs too late in the season and does not
correct the problem with over supply of fruit. Fruit thinning must be done
now. Maintain a rigorous spray schedule for tree fruits.
Healthy, disease-free leaves are essential for good quality fruit. Contact the
Cooperative Extension at 704-633-0571 if you need information on spray schedules
or the schedule is found online at http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/Fruit/fdin002/fdin002.htm