Fruit thinning: The key to success in apple growing

Apple growers often face the challenge of producing high-quality fruit that meets the standards of the market. One of the ways to achieve this is through manual fruit thinning, a process that involves the removal of some of the developing fruits from a tree. This process helps to regulate the fruit load on a tree, ensuring that the remaining fruits have sufficient space and nutrients to develop properly. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of fruit thinning in apple growing

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What is fruit thinning?

Manual thinning involves the careful removal of excess fruit from apple trees to promote the growth of remaining fruit to a marketable size. The process can be done by hand or using special tools, depending on the size of the orchard and the amount of fruit to be removed.

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The importance of fruit thinning in apple growing

Fruit thinning is essential for the production of high-quality apples. When a tree produces too many fruits, the fruits are often small and lack flavor. Additionally, excessive fruit load can lead to biennial bearing, where a tree produces a heavy crop one year and little to no fruit the following year. By thinning the fruit, apple growers can ensure that the remaining fruit is of high quality, and the tree is more likely to produce a consistent crop every year.

Another reason for fruit thinning is to reduce the stress on a tree. When a tree produces too many fruits, it can be stressful on the tree, and it may struggle to provide the necessary nutrients and water to each fruit. By thinning the fruit, apple growers can reduce the stress on the tree, allowing it to focus its energy on producing high-quality fruit.

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Best Practice Tips for Manual Thinning in Apple Growing:

1. Timing: The best time to thin apples is when the fruit is between the size of a bigger marble - so approximately 20 millimetres. This usually occurs six to eight weeks after the blossoms have dropped. Thinning too early can result in the removal of potential good fruit, while thinning too late can lead to smaller fruit size and lower yield.
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2. Selective Thinning: It is important to selectively thin the fruit to ensure that the remaining fruit develops to its full potential. Start by removing any damaged, diseased or misshapen fruit. Next, remove the smallest fruit to allow the remaining fruit to grow to a larger size.
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3. Spacing: Leave adequate space between the remaining fruit to allow them to grow to their full potential. A general rule of thumb is to leave six to eight inches between fruit on the same branch.
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4. Consistency: It is important to be consistent with the amount of fruit removed from each tree to ensure even growth and development. Aim to leave approximately one fruit per six inches of branch.
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5. Monitoring: After thinning, it is important to monitor the remaining fruit to ensure that they are growing to their full potential. This includes checking for pests and diseases, as well as ensuring that they are receiving adequate water and nutrients.

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Smart tools that support manual fruit thinning
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Manual hand thinning is a labor-intensive process that involves removing the fruit by hand. The process can be time-consuming and challenging, especially when dealing with large orchards. However, the Pixofarm app has made manual hand thinning more accessible and efficient. The Pixofarm app uses computer vision technology to provide apple growers with an accurate count of the fruit on a tree. By using the app, growers can identify the fruits that need to be removed, reducing the time and effort required for manual hand thinning. Additionally, the app provides an efficient way to track the progress of the thinning process, ensuring that each tree is adequately thinned.

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For more information, please visit: pixofarm.com/Counting

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Sign up for one of our free webinars to learn even more about digitisation in fruit growing: pixofarm.com/webinar

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Orchard Management,  Pruning, Fertilization, Irrigation, Thinning

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