Thinning fruit (forum)

amanda starts with ...
Hey Jimmy (et al) - at what size is fruit normally thinned? These guys (peach) almost 1cm - are there too many again?

I will force myself to do it this season Jimmy! :))) the plum trees are going to be over loaded also.
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Time: 30th August 2010 11:37am

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About the Author amanda19
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john says...
Hi,
I find to split the doubles and then rule of thumb is 4 fingers between fruit works for me..
good luck and enjoy.



Time: 1st September 2010 1:07am

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amanda says...
Thanks John! that's a nice easy method to remember too! :)

Time: 1st September 2010 9:38am

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amanda says...
Sorry if this is a dumb question - but is it the same for nectarines too? They are a bit smaller...
Is this still too many on this tree? (it's 4yrs old and very sturdy)
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Time: 30th September 2010 5:59pm

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Jimmy says...
Think about it this way.

Grab a tennis ball and look at it, thats a good sized bit of fruit anybody would like to eat.

Hold the tennis ball against your tree branches.

If you can't fit the ball between fruit then you have too much on the tree.

Bigger fruit have higher flesh to stone ratio thus the total mass may be the same but the portion that is eatable is actually larger than unthinned fruit.

I agree the first point of call is to remove doubles, splits, wierdo fruit etc. Then have a look at the branches and keep on thinning.!!

You need to complete thinning prior to stone hardening ie the point when a pen knife dragged through the fruit meets resistance from the stone.

Also bear in mind fruit that can see the sun will be sweeter and more coloured than fruit inside the canopy, so if in doubt knock the shady one out.

Time: 1st October 2010 10:55am

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About the Author Jimmy
Perth
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Wayne says...
Smart advise there Jimmy, I wished we could grow stonefruit up here

Time: 1st October 2010 4:21pm

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About the Author Wayne
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Jason says...
I go by the rule that by the time the birds steal half and the sun burns some and the hail ruins some, you'll end up with just enough :)

Time: 1st October 2010 5:41pm

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About the Author Jason10
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Julie says...
amanda, it is never too early to thin. You can do it as soon as the fruit has set. It means more energy going into what fruit is left.

Having said that, I find it one of the hardest things to do, all that fruit being thrown away! I have to make myself do it.

Time: 1st October 2010 7:43pm

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About the Author Julie
Roleystone WA
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amanda says...
Ah Julie - thanks for that - I thought I was the only one! :)))

Then I also keep thinking - one hot easterly and it will drop half of them anyway (like u say Jason!)

I still haven't done the peach tree as thoroughly as I should have...oops.

Time: 1st October 2010 8:01pm

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About the Author amanda19
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