Han Yuan red peppercorns Sichuan Liuhang Agriculture Co.Ltd , https://www.lhagriculture.com
Talking about apple trees
Thinning and fruit thinning are essential agricultural practices aimed at enhancing apple quality and improving production efficiency. These techniques help reduce fruit loss, maintain tree health, and ensure more stable yields over time. By managing the number of fruits on the tree, these methods also contribute to better fruit size, color, and overall quality. Proper thinning can prevent excessive fruit drop later in the season, which is especially important for maintaining a balance between tree growth and fruit development.
After the formation of flower buds, most apple varieties begin blooming when the average daily temperature reaches 15°C in spring. In regions like Sichuan and Gansu, apple trees typically bloom in mid to late April. The timing of flowering varies by variety, with genetic factors influencing the order and timing of blooms. Environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity also play a role—higher temperatures tend to shorten the flowering period, while higher humidity can extend it. A longer flowering period may increase the risk of physiological fruit drop, so early thinning helps reduce this issue.
It’s recommended to start thinning during the early stages of flowering. Techniques like girdling or applying B9 (a plant growth regulator) can boost flower production, but if not managed properly, they may lead to overloading the tree. This can result in smaller fruits and inconsistent annual yields. Therefore, it's crucial to implement thinning practices before the tree becomes overloaded.
Artificial thinning should be done early, ideally during the inflorescence separation stage or when the flower buds begin to show color. The earlier the intervention, the more effective it is in conserving nutrients and promoting healthy fruit development. For trees with high fruit set rates, removing weak branches, weak flowers, or entire inflorescences on the same branch can improve fruit quality. When the fruit set rate reaches 75–80%, about 20–25% of the inflorescences can be retained, while the rest are removed entirely.
During flowering, each inflorescence should ideally keep only the central flower, along with some buds. In areas like the Bohai Bay region, this practice is particularly useful for weak trees or overly vigorous ones that produce too many flowers. After thinning, the number of remaining flowers should be 30–50% higher than needed to account for potential weather-related pollination issues.
In large orchards where flowering is excessive, spraying a 1–1.5 degree lime sulfur solution after 1–3 days can help control flower numbers. If the weather is favorable and the fruit set rate is high, spraying one or two days later can remove around 60% of the flowers, followed by manual fruit thinning for better results.
The effectiveness of thinning depends on both the timing and the intensity of the operation. The earlier the thinning, the greater the impact on flower bud formation. Whether thinning works well depends largely on how thoroughly it is carried out. Proper implementation ensures healthier trees, better fruit quality, and more consistent yields year after year.