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 Seedlings of Halford and Lovell are available from
many nurseries and are planted by commercial orchardists
in New Jersey. Self-pollinated seedlings of Lovell are
susceptible to peach-tree borers, mice, oak root fungus,
Phytophthora rot and collar rot, crown gall, and root knot
and lesion nematodes. Peach and nectarine varieties have
excellent compatibility with these seedlings. Trees on
self-pollinated Lovell seedlings grow well on all well-
drained soils with good anchorage.
Self-pollinated seedlings of Halford have
characteristics similar to those of Lovell. Trees perform
similarly to those on Lovell seedlings.
Most nurseries procure Lovell seeds from self-
pollinated orchard blocks. Halford is often procured by
commercial nurseries from western canneries that extract
seeds from fruit collected in cross-pollinated orchards.
The performance of seedlings from cross-pollinated
Halford or Lovell trees will vary from seedlings collected
from seed in self-pollinated blocks. Bailey and Tennessee
Natural seedlings are available from some nurseries.
Experience with these rootstocks in other peach-producing
areas has been good. They are currently being planted in
New Jersey.
Rutgers is currently evaluating several collections of
peach and nectarine rootstocks, which have been shown to
have desirable traits in other areas. One such trial is from
the NC-140 Regional Rootstock Project which is a very
large group of fruit collaborators from across North
America who evaluate the rootstocks on numerous sites
simultaneously. Such a program gives important
information about potential rootstocks in a much more
timely manner than was previously possible. Lovell has
consistently been the best cropping rootstock for New
Jersey, but other potentially important stocks are always
being introduced into the program. The USDA in Byron,
Georgia, and Clemson University in Clemson, South
Carolina have released a new seedling rootstock
"Guardian", which is included in several test plantings.
Guardian produces a vigorous tree with most varieties and
is more tolerant of peach tree short life.
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The greatest benefit of early thinning is an increase in
fruit size. Hand thinning should proceed as soon after
bloom as possible after most of the risk of freezing is past.
It is common to see padded bats used to dislodge fruit,
but hand thinning is preferred since offers greater control
and less limb damage.
A good rule for most varieties is 6 to 8 inches
between fruits. The amount of fruit left on the tree is the
key to thinning, not the amount of fruit removed. A
mature tree can usually produce 4 to 6 bushels of large
fruit. A bushel of 2 _-inch peaches contains about 150
fruits; therefore; the tree can carry 600 to 900 peaches.
Count a few limbs, as the thinning proceeds, to get an
estimate.
Blossom thinning can remove flowers either
chemically or physically. Chemical blossom thinners are
caustic or desiccants and work by injuring the flowers.
Post bloom thinning begins after petal fall. Thinning as
early as possible provides best fruit size advantage.
Blossom thinning with over the tree rope thinners
sometimes called bowl brushes is practiced in some
orchards, and can be used within a narrow window of
opportunity. Portable hydraulic or pneumatic limb
shakers are available which operate at about 1,000 strokes
per minute and will do a satisfactory thinning job because
many limbs are thinned independently. Some hand
thinning must follow mechanical shaking if the job is to
be complete. Prune to remove willowy fruiting branches
that do not transmit shaker vibrations. These practices
reduce hand thinning and improve fruit size.
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