Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/473131
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER MARCH 15, 2015 31 recognizing my fruitset and confidence in taking thinning action." The Engelsmas start thinning early at the full bloom stage with MaxCel (6-benzyladenine) plus the surfactant LI700 and then rethin at petal fall with Sevin (carbaryl) plus LI700. This gets them off to a good start reducing cropload but does not over-thin. "We then make our first measurements of fruitlets and remeasure in three to four days," Bridget said. "We hope that 30 to 50 percent of the fruitlets will drop and our thinning job will be done." The Engelsmas have met their objectives by recogniz- ing an increase in both fruit quality and packout due to following the PCM protocols. These growers plan to repeat the PCM program this year and increase the number of blocks measured. Precision Cropload Management is of great assistance to growers and reduces their annual stress related to routine thinning of apples. The process gives growers confidence in their cropload; it gives them good, solid information early when they still have time to rethin. It gives peace of mind when accomplishing such a difficult practice. PCM trains the grower eye to visually recognize the ongoing thinning response in their blocks. Perhaps best of all, growers successfully achieve good thinning early, which leads directly to good annual cropping every year. • balance calculated. Only one of these results displays for the end user, eliminating much of the guesswork or calculations the grower would otherwise need to do. The recommendation is based on number of grams of carbohydrate the tree is "out of balance" in the positive direction. Growers would use their standard thinning pro- gram when the tree is generally in balance or moder- ately negative. If the four-day carbohydrate balance is expected to be positive (producing more carbo- hydrate than the plant needs), increase thinner rate by 15 or 30 percent. Growers would decrease their thinner rate by 10, 20, or 30 percent depending on how great the deficit is. For severe deficits, no thin- ner would be recommended, as many fruits could be expected to fall off naturally. Lakso cautioned that the model requires high quality data—good weather stations, properly located and calibrated for accurate temperatures, and especially sunlight. Good weather forecasts help as well, but these are beyond grower control. Growers in New York and other areas who have used the model have found it to be a useful addition to the information and experience needed to make good thinning decisions, he said. Growers should get some indication of how effective their thinning was by looking at the actual weather data for the four days after they applied the thinner. But they can also monitor it by using a method developed with Dr. Duane Greene at University of Massachusetts. In that system, growers choose fruits to measure before and after thinner is applied. After thinning, fruits that are growing at less than half of the rate of the largest fruit will almost certainly fall off, although it may take several days for that to happen. • APPLE • PEAR • CHERRY • PLUM • APRICOT Our pollen is viability tested to assure quality. Exclusive distributor of SCUMBY PUFFERS®. Accurate on any planting. 800-322-8852 www.firmanpollen.com 301 N. 1st Avenue • Yakima, Washington 98902 509-452-8063, fax 509-453-6838 Quality Firman Pollen Improves: Fruit Set Bee Efficiency Pollination Timing Quality Pollination Improves: Yield Consistency Fruit Quality Fruit Storability Trust Quality Firman Pollen Viability And Virus Tested Compatibility Matched Leaders in Application Technology j j j j j j j j j Since 1933 FIRMAN Pollen Co. QUALITY & VALUE you can TRUST WASHINGTON: CALIFORNIA: AREA REPRESENTATIVES: Columbia Basin and Yakima Valley Randy Bunce 509-452-8063 randy@firmanpollen.com Wenatchee/ Okanogan area Tom, Kyle & Linda Batch 509-687-9670 Bleyhl Farm Service Grandview 509-882-1225 Zillah 509-829-6922 Linden John DeMartini 209-484-8502 Tulare & Kern Counties Bob Cademartori 209-601-0754 "Weather conditions in the three days after the thinner is applied are more important than conditions before the thinner is applied." —Alan Lakso