Bumper Crop Of Baby Peaches – How To Thin The Peaches

Q: I have a bumper crop of baby peaches. Is there a rule of thumb for thinning the peaches? I know the branches won’t support all of them. 

A: You are right. If you don’t remove some of the fruit, you’ll have limb breakage and small peaches. The best time to thin a peach tree is when the fruit approaches 1” in diameter. Your goal is to have individual small peaches hanging 3” to 6” apart. Remove the smallest ones first. A quick twist is better than a sharp pull. Hold the fruit between two fingers and your thumb and twist as if you’re snapping your fingers. Don’t leave the fruit on the ground; collect and deposit on your compost pile.