Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand
Rye, We remove the actual flower buds only, leaving the spur leaves behind. My understanding is that Fireblight is not a problem until flower is open, but I could be wrong about that. I leave the leaves only because I suspect that doing so there is a better chance of that spur flowering again next year that way and I also suspect that those spur leaves will add somewhat to the vigor of the tree that first year. So I am waiting a bit longer than you suggest you have been. Often a number of the flowers are open, many at pink as well. This means you may need to pass through a couple of times as often it's those last few open flowers that end up being your FB headache. Of course the added benefit in doing so will prevent danger of internal leps being a problem, as well as fruit scab and a host of other maladies. For those customers who don't want us to spray anymore, flower removal is their ultimate dream :-) Mo Tougas On Sun, Feb 3, 2013 at 5:54 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > Hi Mo, > > Another question about flower thinning: I guess in my first writing I > should have said I have been removing the whole blossom. Should I keep or > remove the small leaves that were around the buds? > > I have been removing the whole cluster, leaves and all and still not > confident if I'm doing it right. Should I let the cluster open up more and > just grab the flower buds? Too many variances in the images of what is > labeled "tight cluster" on the web. Some images show the leaves completely > unfurled where you could just grab the flower buds,and others show the > leaves still mostly wrapped around the buds such that you'd have to remove > the leaves with the buds. Or if it doesn't matter either way. > > Thanks, > Rye Hefley > So Cal > > -- > *From:* maurice tougas > *To:* Apple-crop discussion list > *Sent:* Saturday, February 2, 2013 3:09 AM > *Subject:* Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand > > You're doing fine Rye. You will encourage growth and do no harm. You'll > also reduce the potential for fireblight infections. We simply pinch the > buds at or as they break "tight cluster". Prefer not removing entire spur > as we may want fruit there next year. It's time consuming, but for > fireblight reduction and increased growth response, worth it. > > Mo Tougas > Grower, Tougas Family Farm > > > On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 6:38 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > > > I am removing flowers by hand this year to promote scaffolding growth. > When I see a flower that is protruding from the bud (before it is open), I > grab the whole bud and pull it off. I started to wonder if this is in any > way harmful to my goal of scaffold growth. Is there a "right time" and > "right way" to manually remove flowers? I'm not looking to grow any fruit > this year just scaffolding. > > Thanks, > Rye Hefley > So Cal > ___ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > > -- > Maurice Tougas > Tougas Family Farm > Northborough,MA 01532 > 508-450-0844 > > ___ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > > > ___ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > -- Maurice Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough,MA 01532 508-450-0844 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand
Hi Mo, Another question about flower thinning: I guess in my first writing I should have said I have been removing the whole blossom. Should I keep or remove the small leaves that were around the buds? I have been removing the whole cluster, leaves and all and still not confident if I'm doing it right. Should I let the cluster open up more and just grab the flower buds? Too many variances in the images of what is labeled "tight cluster" on the web. Some images show the leaves completely unfurled where you could just grab the flower buds,and others show the leaves still mostly wrapped around the buds such that you'd have to remove the leaves with the buds. Or if it doesn't matter either way. Thanks, Rye Hefley So Cal > > From: maurice tougas >To: Apple-crop discussion list >Sent: Saturday, February 2, 2013 3:09 AM >Subject: Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand > > >You're doing fine Rye. You will encourage growth and do no harm. You'll also >reduce the potential for fireblight infections. We simply pinch the buds at or >as they break "tight cluster". Prefer not removing entire spur as we may want >fruit there next year. It's time consuming, but for fireblight reduction and >increased growth response, worth it. > > >Mo Tougas >Grower, Tougas Family Farm > > > >On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 6:38 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > > >>I am removing flowers by hand this year to promote scaffolding growth. When I >>see a flower that is protruding from the bud (before it is open), I grab the >>whole bud and pull it off. I started to wonder if this is in any way harmful >>to my goal of scaffold growth. Is there a "right time" and "right way" to >>manually remove flowers? I'm not looking to grow any fruit this year just >>scaffolding. >> >>Thanks, >>Rye Hefley >>So Cal >>___ >>apple-crop mailing list >>apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >>http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> > > > >-- >Maurice Tougas >Tougas Family Farm >Northborough,MA 01532 >508-450-0844 >___ >apple-crop mailing list >apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > > >___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand
Thanks for the advice Mo. I will spray. Rye Hefley So Cal -- On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 9:55 AM PST maurice tougas wrote: >Rye, > >I'm going to assume you won't be able to do 100% flower removal, and I'm >told there is nearly 0zero chance of resistance developing if you spray >strep ONLY during bloom, I would. With you already having FB in the >orchard, don't risk it! My opinion. Good luck, > >Mo > > >On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 11:35 AM, Rye Hefley wrote: > >> >> Hi Mo, >> >> Thank you for your response and confirmation to continue that way. >> >> Yes there was fireblight last year and now will be "forevermore". Was >> thinking that also would be a fringe benefit of removing flowers. >> >> After pruning and flower removal, is it still necessary to spray this year? >> >> Thanks again Mo! >> >> Rye Hefley >> So Cal >> -- >> On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 3:09 AM PST maurice tougas wrote: >> >> >You're doing fine Rye. You will encourage growth and do no harm. You'll >> >also reduce the potential for fireblight infections. We simply pinch the >> >buds at or as they break "tight cluster". Prefer not removing entire spur >> >as we may want fruit there next year. It's time consuming, but for >> >fireblight reduction and increased growth response, worth it. >> > >> >Mo Tougas >> >Grower, Tougas Family Farm >> > >> > >> >On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 6:38 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: >> > >> > >> > I am removing flowers by hand this year to promote scaffolding growth. >> > When I see a flower that is protruding from the bud (before it is >> open), I >> > grab the whole bud and pull it off. I started to wonder if this is in >> any >> > way harmful to my goal of scaffold growth. Is there a "right time" and >> > "right way" to manually remove flowers? I'm not looking to grow any >> fruit >> > this year just scaffolding. >> > >> > Thanks, >> > Rye Hefley >> > So Cal >> > ___ >> > apple-crop mailing list >> > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >-- >> >Maurice Tougas >> >Tougas Family Farm >> >Northborough,MA 01532 >> >508-450-0844 >> >> ___ >> apple-crop mailing list >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> > > > >-- >Maurice Tougas >Tougas Family Farm >Northborough,MA 01532 >508-450-0844 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand
Rye, I'm going to assume you won't be able to do 100% flower removal, and I'm told there is nearly 0zero chance of resistance developing if you spray strep ONLY during bloom, I would. With you already having FB in the orchard, don't risk it! My opinion. Good luck, Mo On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 at 11:35 AM, Rye Hefley wrote: > > Hi Mo, > > Thank you for your response and confirmation to continue that way. > > Yes there was fireblight last year and now will be "forevermore". Was > thinking that also would be a fringe benefit of removing flowers. > > After pruning and flower removal, is it still necessary to spray this year? > > Thanks again Mo! > > Rye Hefley > So Cal > -- > On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 3:09 AM PST maurice tougas wrote: > > >You're doing fine Rye. You will encourage growth and do no harm. You'll > >also reduce the potential for fireblight infections. We simply pinch the > >buds at or as they break "tight cluster". Prefer not removing entire spur > >as we may want fruit there next year. It's time consuming, but for > >fireblight reduction and increased growth response, worth it. > > > >Mo Tougas > >Grower, Tougas Family Farm > > > > > >On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 6:38 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > > > >> > >> I am removing flowers by hand this year to promote scaffolding growth. > >> When I see a flower that is protruding from the bud (before it is > open), I > >> grab the whole bud and pull it off. I started to wonder if this is in > any > >> way harmful to my goal of scaffold growth. Is there a "right time" and > >> "right way" to manually remove flowers? I'm not looking to grow any > fruit > >> this year just scaffolding. > >> > >> Thanks, > >> Rye Hefley > >> So Cal > >> ___ > >> apple-crop mailing list > >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > >> > > > > > > > >-- > >Maurice Tougas > >Tougas Family Farm > >Northborough,MA 01532 > >508-450-0844 > > ___ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > -- Maurice Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough,MA 01532 508-450-0844 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand
Hi Mo, Thank you for your response and confirmation to continue that way. Yes there was fireblight last year and now will be "forevermore". Was thinking that also would be a fringe benefit of removing flowers. After pruning and flower removal, is it still necessary to spray this year? Thanks again Mo! Rye Hefley So Cal -- On Sat, Feb 2, 2013 3:09 AM PST maurice tougas wrote: >You're doing fine Rye. You will encourage growth and do no harm. You'll >also reduce the potential for fireblight infections. We simply pinch the >buds at or as they break "tight cluster". Prefer not removing entire spur >as we may want fruit there next year. It's time consuming, but for >fireblight reduction and increased growth response, worth it. > >Mo Tougas >Grower, Tougas Family Farm > > >On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 6:38 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > >> >> I am removing flowers by hand this year to promote scaffolding growth. >> When I see a flower that is protruding from the bud (before it is open), I >> grab the whole bud and pull it off. I started to wonder if this is in any >> way harmful to my goal of scaffold growth. Is there a "right time" and >> "right way" to manually remove flowers? I'm not looking to grow any fruit >> this year just scaffolding. >> >> Thanks, >> Rye Hefley >> So Cal >> ___ >> apple-crop mailing list >> apple-crop@virtualorchard.net >> http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop >> > > > >-- >Maurice Tougas >Tougas Family Farm >Northborough,MA 01532 >508-450-0844 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: [apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand
You're doing fine Rye. You will encourage growth and do no harm. You'll also reduce the potential for fireblight infections. We simply pinch the buds at or as they break "tight cluster". Prefer not removing entire spur as we may want fruit there next year. It's time consuming, but for fireblight reduction and increased growth response, worth it. Mo Tougas Grower, Tougas Family Farm On Fri, Feb 1, 2013 at 6:38 PM, Rye Hefley wrote: > > I am removing flowers by hand this year to promote scaffolding growth. > When I see a flower that is protruding from the bud (before it is open), I > grab the whole bud and pull it off. I started to wonder if this is in any > way harmful to my goal of scaffold growth. Is there a "right time" and > "right way" to manually remove flowers? I'm not looking to grow any fruit > this year just scaffolding. > > Thanks, > Rye Hefley > So Cal > ___ > apple-crop mailing list > apple-crop@virtualorchard.net > http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop > -- Maurice Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough,MA 01532 508-450-0844 ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
[apple-crop] Removing Flowers by hand
I am removing flowers by hand this year to promote scaffolding growth. When I see a flower that is protruding from the bud (before it is open), I grab the whole bud and pull it off. I started to wonder if this is in any way harmful to my goal of scaffold growth. Is there a "right time" and "right way" to manually remove flowers? I'm not looking to grow any fruit this year just scaffolding. Thanks, Rye Hefley So Cal ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
