North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[<dmnorton@royaloakfarmorchard.com>]

We let fruit set then apply NAA and Sevin before fruitlets get to 10mm, 
usually between 5mm-8mm.  If hand thinning, we do the same.

Dennis Norton
Royal Oak Farm Orchard, Zone 5
http://www.royaloakfarmorchard.com
http://www.theorchardkeeper.blogspot.com
http://www.revivalhymn.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>
To: "NAFEX" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 25, 2008 8:20 AM
Subject: [NAFEX] Thinning apples and more


> Deb S asked, "Also about when do you thin your fruit?  I would hate to 
> thin and then lose more fruit to "June drop".
>
>
>    When I thin apples I strive to leave only the 'king' apple in all 
> clusters, thereby minimizing the June Drop.  In addition, I leave only one 
> apple per hand width per branch so the fruits grow to almost softball 
> size.
>    There is one problem with harvesting huge fruits.  The prongs on the 
> basket picker that is available at the hardware store are too short to 
> approach the stem of such large apples.  Consequently the prongs gouge 
> into the  flesh at the stem ends but, to counter that, force some stiff 
> plastic tubing onto the prongs, adding to the length of the prongs.
>
> Jim Fruth
> Brambleberry Farm
> Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
> For jams, jellies & syrups:
> www.bberryfarm.com
> (877)265-6856 [Store]
> (218)831-7018 [My Cell]