Expert: Nick McCann Date: 6/29/2008 Subject: Granny Smith Apple Trees and Peach Trees
Question I have 3 year old fruit trees that have fruit for the first time. What do I do to take care of these trees?
Answer Hi Liz, aside from the fact that they have been cared for properly up to this point, ie: fertilizing, spraying etc. the most important thing now is to cull out about 40 percent of the small fruit; I know this is difficult, but for the young trees to mature their fruit to the optimum size, its imperative. If all of the fruit that has developed is allowed to mature, you will achieve fruit that is small / underdeveloped; a 3 year tree is still in its formative years and needs to direct a great deal of its energy into forming a strong structure, for it to be allowed to attempt to mature all of the existing fruit it has will only serve to take away from this needed development and result in undersize fruit. I hope this helps you understand the importance of culling out fruit on a young tree, especially the Peach...good luck Nick:)
