Early summer brings a glimpse of what’s to come in the fruit garden, with apple and pear trees already filled with young fruits. However, to ensure a healthy, abundant harvest at the end of the season, some of these young fruits need to be removed. While it may seem counterintuitive, thinning is a crucial step for maximizing fruit quality and tree health.
What is Thinning and Why Does it Matter?
Thinning involves selectively removing some of the young fruits from your trees. Many fruit trees, including apples and pears, naturally drop some of their fruits during early summer in a process called the “June drop.” However, additional thinning can further benefit the tree, ensuring it remains healthy and produces a more consistent, higher-quality crop.
Thinning helps reduce overcrowding, which can prevent fruits from rubbing against each other and causing damage or disease, such as rot. It also minimizes the risk of a tree bearing an excessive number of fruits one year, only to produce very few the next. This imbalance is called “biennial bearing,” and it can be avoided with proper thinning. Furthermore, some trees, like plums, can develop such heavy fruit clusters that the branches may break under the strain if not thinned.
The primary advantage of thinning is that it gives the remaining fruits more space to grow larger and healthier. With more sunlight, air circulation, and tree energy directed to the fewer fruits left behind, the remaining ones will ripen more evenly and develop better flavor. For gardeners, fewer, larger fruits are typically more desirable than many small, less flavorful ones.
How to Thin an Apple Tree
When thinning an apple tree, start by using sharp pruners or scissors, especially if fruits are clustered tightly. Apple trees tend to produce clusters of 2 to 6 fruits, and you should aim to leave just one or two fruits per cluster.
- Begin by removing any damaged, misshapen, or scarred fruits. This often includes the larger, central “king” fruit.
- Next, remove the smallest fruits and any that are poorly positioned.
- Continue thinning until the remaining fruits are evenly spaced, focusing on leaving the largest and healthiest ones.
For eating varieties, leave about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) between fruits, while larger cooking apples should be spaced 6 to 9 inches (15-23 cm) apart.
Thinning Other Fruit Trees
- Pears require less thinning than apples, but they still benefit from having fruit clusters thinned to maintain consistent yields. Aim for 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) between the remaining pears.
- Plums can overproduce, leading to branch stress. Thin them by pinching off excess fruit with your fingers, leaving about 1 fruit every 2 inches (5-8 cm), or a pair every 6 inches (15 cm).
- Peaches should be thinned in stages. Start by leaving one fruit every 4 inches (10 cm) once the fruits are the size of a hazelnut. As they grow to the size of a golf ball, thin them again to 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) apart.
- Nectarines should be thinned to 6 inches (15 cm) apart.
Conclusion
Thinning your fruit trees may feel counterproductive, but it is an essential practice for ensuring healthier trees and higher-quality fruit. By reducing overcrowding, ensuring proper spacing, and directing the tree’s energy to fewer, stronger fruits, you’ll enjoy a more productive and consistent harvest season after season.