How to Thin Flowers and Fruits on Loquat? Latest Technical Method Tutorial

Loquat readily forms flower clusters. To adjust the leaf-to-fruit ratio, save nutrients, ensure the fruit has enough nutrients to grow, and achieve a bumper harvest year after year, flower and fruit thinning measures must be carried out in production. So how should loquat be thinned of flowers and fruits? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.

1. Flower thinning

First, in areas without freeze damage in winter, it is generally carried out when the flower clusters have fully emerged but not yet opened, that is, from November to December. Flower thinning should be based on tree vigor and variety. First, the number of flower clusters is determined by tree vigor. Generally speaking, for large-fruited types each cluster is calculated at 0.2 kg, and for medium-fruited types each cluster is calculated at 0.15 kg. When thinning flowers, more should be removed from the upper part of the canopy and less from the lower part. At the same time, attention should be paid to flower clusters that emerge too early or too late, so as to keep the ripening period of the fruit on the whole tree in check. In areas prone to freeze damage and sunscald, more flower clusters inside the canopy should be kept when thinning flowers, and after freeze damage occurs, flower thinning should be combined with fruit thinning.

2. Bud thinning

Bud thinning is an important measure for loquat. Through bud thinning, nutrients can be saved and concentrated to cultivate large fruits. There are mainly two steps: first, removing the top of the flower cluster, which is called cutting the cluster tail; second, removing the basal branches of the flower cluster. In addition, the upward-curving branches of the flower cluster should also be removed, keeping the drooping branches in the middle. The specific branches to keep depend on the variety. Generally, large-fruited varieties keep 3-4 branches, while medium and small varieties keep 4-5 branches. After such thinning and pruning, not only will the loquat fruit be larger and more uniform in ripening period, but bagging will also be more convenient, and the fruit will be less likely to be sunscalded. In areas without freeze damage, it is best to choose early-opening flowers for bud thinning, which can significantly increase the fruit-setting rate; in areas with freeze damage, it is suitable to choose late-opening flowers, and a bit more flowers may be kept, delaying the flowering and fruiting period to avoid the freeze damage period.

3. Fruit thinning

Fruit thinning is generally carried out after the young fruits have stabilized, that is, about 1 month after fruit set. At this time the fruits have not yet entered the rapid expansion stage, and fruit thinning can make the fruits evenly distributed and moderate in number, ensuring an average single fruit weight of about 50-60 grams. First, deformed fruits, diseased and insect-damaged fruits, injured fruits and freeze-damaged fruits should be removed, and then some fruits that have grown less should be thinned out in batches. When thinning fruits, try to select and keep young fruits similar in size, color, position and orientation, which can save harvesting time. The number of fruits kept per cluster depends on the variety and tree vigor. Generally, large-fruited types keep 2-4 fruits per cluster, and medium-fruited types keep 3-5 fruits.

The above is an introduction to loquat flower and fruit thinning techniques. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.