Post blossom thinning for peach, nectarine, plum, apricot and cherry crops.
Malcolm Taylor from Agropraisals Pty Ltd ran twelve replicated trials on peach, nectarine, plum, apricot and cherry crops during spring 2018 and 2019 in northern Victoria, applying plant growth regulator chemicals for post-blossom thinning of fruitlets.
Chemical thinning of stonefruit directly addresses the two key guiding principles:
- lowering the labour inputs required to manage correct crop loading,
- reducing the biotic stress of crops associated with excessive crop loads.
Presentation: Spray thinning for crop load management of stonefruit This PDF opens in a new window (Note: this document does not meet WCAG 2.0 accessibility guidelines) or download the PowerPoint Presentation: Spray thinning for crop load management of stonefruit
Next steps: Results cannot be adopted in the absence of a minor use permit or registration from the APVMA. Results from these trials will be forwarded to Summerfruits Australia and Horticulture Innovation Australia in order that a permit can be submitted.
The author is available to present these results to Victorian fruit growers.
Plums in full bloom
