Thursday, September 29, 2011

Thinning the Blood Plums

The espaliered Blood Plums have set a huge crop of fruit this year.

This crop will require thinning which is best done when the fruit reach the size of a pea,  probably about a fortnight from now.  Ideally a fruiting spur such as this should carry only half a dozen fruit maximum.

By keeping crops smaller, aiming for quality over quantity, it becomes easier to manage diseases and pests including by avoiding fruit-fly problems arising from  massive amounts of fallen fruit.  Rigorous pruning and espaliering the trees allows this "micro-management" of fruit crops.  For more on The Espaliery click here

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