One of the most common mistakes in crop management of apples is underestimating the crop load, says Kevin Larson, horticulturist with Roche Fruit Company, Yakima, Washington. When the fruit is around 12 millimeters (half an inch) in diameter at thinning time, the crop load probably doesn’t look as heavy as it actually is, Larson explained. “We tend to back off on the chemical thinner a little, and then, around the time we’re hand thinning, we’re wondering why we’re spending $800 per acre for hand thinning and fruit size is small.” Speaking during a panel discussion at the Washington State Horticultural […]