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By KHJHAKD MARINI and
HOWARD ROLLINS
Rappahannock New« Contributing Writer*
During the past eight years we have identified some of the factors influencing yield and fruit quality.
We believe that yield can be improved in many commercial plantings simply with improved tree training and pruning. We have recorded yields of 400 to 600 boxes per acre for Redhaven and Loring respectively. These data indicate that the low, open-center form can be quite productive if trees are pruned with the following considerations in mind.
Pruning severity: It is important to balance pruning and nitrogen fertilization to encourage shoot growth for next year’s crop without reducing yield and fruit color. As pruning becomes more severe shoot growth, shading, fruit size, and leaf nitrogen content increase, whereas yield and fruit color decrease.
Varietal considerations: Peach varieties differ in their ability to produce flower buds. There are three . important points to realize about the fruiting potential of a given variety. (1) Flower bud density (buds/foot of shoot) differs from year to year due to environmental conditions and crop land. (2) Bloom density varies annually due to bud density and winter injury. (3) Bud and flower densities vary with variety in a given year. Springold, Biscoe and Cresthaven usually produce more than 20 flower buds per foot of shoot, while
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