Peach Tree Thinning
We had plenty of chill hours this year and all managed trees I have looked at seem to be loaded with small peaches. Peaches will often set more fruit than is needed for a good crop. While that is a good thing, it can present problems if the trees are not thinned properly. The excess weight can cause limbs to break. Trees that are not thinned may also produce peaches that are small and have poor flavor. Production of excessive fruit one year may prevent the tree from producing well the following year.
According to former A&M AgriLife Extension Horticulturist Dr. Parsons, 8% of blossom set equals a full crop of quality peaches. That means 92% has to go. Thinning should be done shortly after fruit set, but later is better than never. Fruit should be thinned to 6” intervals on twigs; early varieties are best thinned to 10” because of the short time the fruit have to mature. Do not look down when thinning as it may scare you into thinking you are removing too many peaches. It is best just to stay on task, never looking down. Remember that it takes 191 peaches that are 1 3/4” in diameter to equal a bushel, while it only takes 79 peaches that are 2 ½” in diameter to equal a bushel.
When thinning, be sure to remove all culls. Once again, we seem to have an abundance of double peaches. Flower buds for this year’s crop were initiated last summer. The best explanation I have ever been giving for doubles is that the sustained high temperatures during the flower initiation stage cause the production of multiple pistils. This results in double or even triple fruit after pollination. Whatever the cause all these need to be culled.
Other than the intensive management and labor required to produce a peach crop, I have never understood why we have so little peach production in the area. Yes, risk due to late frost is a challenge, but any crop has its risk. On the other hand, few crops offer the income potential that peaches do per acre. The demand for locally grown food and especially quality peaches seems to be a growing trend; this is certainly the case in more metropolitan areas. Marketing opportunities for Comanche County grown peaches should only increase in the future. If you have a location, enjoy working outside and can stand a little risk, you should consider a peach orchard.