Minnesota Ag Connection - Crop Load Management Options for Apples

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Crop Load Management Options for Apples
Minnesota Ag Connection - 06/25/2019

Monday was June 24 -- have you thinned your apple crop yet?

Thinning is important for fruit quality, fruit size, and tree health. The new What's Killing My Kale podcast episode compares thinning options, describes what to do if you haven't thinned yet this season, and details a non-chemical approach to thinning called "Artificial Spur Extinction."

If you are looking for non-chemical thinning techniques for next year, you will enjoy this podcast episode.

In episode 22 of What's Killing My Kale, Annie took a deep dive into apple crop load management (thinning) techniques with fruit tree researcher Becky Wiepz. Becky recently received her Masters degree in Horticulture at Penn State, studying a crop load management technique called artificial spur extinction. This non-chemical technique may be a promising option for organic apple growers in the Midwest, as it reduces or eliminates the need for chemical thinners during the growing season.

In addition to artificial spur extinction, we compared the advantages and disadvantages of various thinning techniques, and laid out what options apple growers have at this point in the season if they have not thinned yet.

Listen to and download the episode at https://bit.ly/2YcSdBK.

For more information about the program or questions about fruits and vegetables, contact University of Minnesota Extension Educator Annie Klodd at (515) 229-2073 or Twitter @MNFruitLady

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