After tests were carried out over a few years, Emilia Romagna fruit growers have began implementing the mechanical thinning of flowers. The operation must be performed at the right moment so as to obtain a good final result and save money on traditional thinning costs.
"We started thinning peach and nectarine flowers a few days ago, as results have always been positive. Of course we only intervene on the varieties with a larger number of blossoms and perform touch ups by hand," explains Giuliano Donati, technician at GranFrutta Zani in Bagnacavallo (Ravenna).
There are various types of thinning machines - the most evolved feature a unit installed on the tractor that controls the thinner. Through the tractor's hydraulic circuit, the rotor revolves around its axis and the flexible arms make between 20 and 40% of the flowers drop. It is usually set at 180 rides per minute and remains constant no matter the speed of the tractor.
Archive photo
Producer Cristian Tozzi from Forlì has been thinning flowers mechanically for a few years. "We have not started yet because of the risk of late frosts, but we will start soon. Thinning has led to good results in the past, while we were not pleased with the tests on fruitlet thinning."
Mechanical thinning can also be used on apricots.