Rye Its common for many commercial growers to do just that. Rather than hand thinning though, they use chemical thinners, such as NAA and Sevin. Depending on weather conditions, rates and bloom load, it will take out a percentage of the flowers.
Bill ---- Original message ---- >Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:29:54 -0500 (EST) >From: Rye <ducn...@aol.com> >Subject: [apple-crop] Manually dropping fruit from young trees >To: apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > > Why is it customary to allow fruit to form and then > drop it when it is small, rather than removing > flowers so the tree doesn't "waste" energy forming > any fruit at all? Curious if tree growth can be > increased without harmful effects by removing > flowers before they form fruit. > > Thanks, > Rye Hefley > Future Farmers Marketer > So. Cal. >________________ >_______________________________________________ >apple-crop mailing list >apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop William H Shoemaker, UI-Crop Sciences Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops St Charles Horticulture Research Center 535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174 630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610 _______________________________________________ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop