One secret that will help you grow large apples on your apple tree
At first, the gardener is overjoyed at the prospect of an abundance. But then they begin to think more clearly and come to the conclusion that the apple tree may not be able to handle such a large crop. As a result, the apples may turn out small and lack the characteristic flavor of the variety. Furthermore, having produced a large harvest this season, the tree will be forced to take a break next year. Therefore, the tree will not produce its full potential either this year or the next.
Is there a secret?
This involves reducing the number of fruits. For this purpose, the trees are inspected when the majority of ovaries are forming. One fruit is plucked from each inflorescence. Naturally, any substandard fruits or those that interfere with the development of others are removed. As they grow further, they will still not develop properly and will remain small and tasteless.
Typically, the central fruit is removed. The remaining ovaries will have more space and sun to develop. Furthermore, the remaining apples will receive proper nutrition, will fill out faster, be tasty, and ripen faster. Ultimately, the gardener will enjoy a bountiful harvest, and the tree will be able to conserve its strength for fruiting in the following gardening season.
It's also important to remember that diseased fruit, if removed promptly, will prevent the spread of pathogens that cause various fruit diseases. So, this is also a preventative measure for the health of your garden!
Pruning excess ovaries is also recommended for low-growing apple trees with abundant ovaries. Two key points should be noted:
- Before you begin plucking the buds, shake the branch vigorously. Weak, unformed buds will inevitably fall off.
- Apples will be much larger if there are at least 35–40 leaves per ovary during fruit formation. If you leave too many ovaries and too few leaves, even with hand-training, the apples will not increase in size.
