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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
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Sun, 20 May 2012 21:06:01 -0400
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-----Original Message----- 
From: Michael Palmer

>>I don't believe the orchards in this area attempt to pollinate only the
king bloom. They get every flower fertilized, and then spray thinner.
Mike


If the king bloom is well set (8-10 seeds), it has a natural suppressing 
effect on the remaining bloom in the cluster, and this makes spray thinning 
much easier. Everything tends to drop, except the king fruit.

Apples normally are in clusters of 5 (a few varieties differ). The next 
three to bloom, are more or less simultaneous.  They also tend to set 
together and no one has any suppressive effect. So, if the king bloom is not 
set, then it's likely to have three fairly equal apples in each cluster. 
Spray thinning can be pretty tricky. Not enough and none drop off; too much 
and they all drop off. Apples growers hate to walk this razor edge.

The fifth bloom is weak, and generally won't make an apple that wins any 
prizes. But if no others in the cluster are set, it's better to have this 
last bloom set to prevent the trees from going into woody growth. for the 
season.

If bloom is normal, growers figure they've got the best possible crop if 
they can get every other king bloom well set.

More info:  http://www.pollinator.com/effecpol.htm

Dave Green
Retired 

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