premature fruit drop (forum)

gardenias starts with ...
I've recently purcahsed a dwarf nectarine tree laden with fruit. It was repotted about 3-4 weeks ago after purchase, and the last few days, I've noticed the fruit dropping. I am a novice when it comes to growing fruit trees and have no idea why its dropping prematurely. Would appreciate any advice.

Time: 5th October 2009 8:52am

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About the Author gardenias
Gold Coast
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amanda says...
Hi Gardenias - the tree may b too young to carry a lot of fruit yet. The shock of transplanting may have caused it to drop fruit also. Can u post a photo at all?

Time: 5th October 2009 9:38am

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About the Author amanda19
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amanda says...
Hey guys..can anyone tell me if this is too much fruit for my nectarine tree at all? it's 2.5yrs and 1.5m tall. It's got lots of problems (see premature leaf drop topic) but I don't know how much fruit is too much fruit? should i thin them out? thanks...
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1

Time: 5th October 2009 9:42am

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About the Author amanda19
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Jimmy says...
Thats WAAAAYYYY too much.

Peter Coppin www.petercoppin.com) recomends you get some tennis balls.

Attach some paper clips to them and hang em from the tree. That will give you a good distance to thin the fruits between. A tennis ball fruit is a bout as small as you want, tiddly fruit are harder to eat !

Also, your tree needs nitrogen to push put some fresh leaves, then none more as it can cause quality problems with the fruit later if excessive.



Time: 5th October 2009 10:43am

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Original Post was last edited: 5th October 2009 10:44am

About the Author Jimmy
 
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amanda says...
Jimmy - u are great! good idea bout the tennis balls....i suspected there might be too many but didn't know how far to go pulling them off (and u know how it is...it's heartbreaking thinning them out..boo hoo!) Interesting u said that about the nitrogen - would u mind checking out my posts in "premature leaf drop" (still on main page) please...?

From my research - my problems could be mainly due to nitrogen and/or Magnesium (and a bit of Calcium too) - hence it's helpful u mentioned nitrogen....only Mg and N defic'y seem to cause the red colours and one ref mentions a shothole appearance with N defic'y too.
The plums trees look awfully chlorotic to me?
I'd appreciate any thoughts u may have :)



Time: 5th October 2009 4:07pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Jimmy says...
You will need to thin before stone hardening ie when you run a knife through the fruit and first feel resistance. My mate at Northampton has sent a couple thousand trays of stonefruit down to Perth, so you might need to hurry up there !

Time: 6th October 2009 4:12pm

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amanda says...
Ta Jimmy - far out about your mate! that's 50kms up the road! They must have a great microclimate and early one's hey? my dwarf nectarines haven't finished flowering and the dwarf peaches still haven't broken dormancy!?

Time: 7th October 2009 9:42am

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About the Author amanda19
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Jimmy says...
Yes, very early vaieties, about 2 weeks behind Carnarvon but the fruit quality is a 1000 times better.

Check out the rewards group plnatations at Dandaragan, they are massive and all paid for by tax payers dollars throught the tax dodges involved.

They are about 2 weeks after Northampton.

Time: 8th October 2009 12:37pm

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amanda says...
Hi Jimmy - do u think your friend in Northampton may be able to help me with my problems in the topic "premature leaf drop" at all? I can put my e-mail here for contact? It would be awesome to talk to a grower in my area..


Time: 9th October 2009 12:19pm

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. WA
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