Let the 1st year trees fruit or not

Little Luey · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Yuma Arizona

I am starting to see small fruit on a couple of the trees I got last november, a 3-1 dwarf plum and a dwarf peach that is not even on a pot yet.
I have read that you should not let a new tree fruit the first year since it would take a lot of energy away from the tree that is trying to get stablished. But I wouls also like to see how the fruit develops and grows. I was thinking about thinning them to maybe a couple of fruit on the trees, whould that be ok or should I take all fruit down?

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:55 pm Post subject:

I always let them fruit and have never had any trouble. I doubt the difference in growth you get from thinning them would be very significant. My only concern would be the fruit being too heavy and breaking one of your small, but main branches. You'll be able to see that coming if its going to happen and usually a small tree will produce small fruit. I had a fruit on my Santa Anna plum that I planted last spring almost immediately after planting it. It was only about as big as my thumb but was delicious.

By the way. Peaches almost always need to be thinned.

Little Luey · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Yuma Arizona

Thanks, I will keep an eye on the branches.

Little Luey · Joined: 28 Oct 2009 Posts: 43 Location: Yuma Arizona

I ended up taking them all down, I can wait.