How to Thin Peaches

It pays to be ruthless when thinning a peach tree, according to Jerry Parsons, horticulture specialist with the Texas Agricultural Extension. According to Parsons, 92 percent of peach blossoms should be removed from the tree to avoid damaged trees and fruit. Peach trees should be thinned early, especially if you are growing an early-ripening variety. Thinning the fruit gives the remaining peaches more room to grow and gives the gardener larger peaches.

Things You'll Need

• Rake

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Wait until after petal fall, or when the peaches are the size of a dime, to thin the peach tree.

   • 2

     Remove peaches that have insect damage or appear diseased. Twist and pull them from the tree.

   • 3

     Take off the smallest fruit until the remaining, larger peaches are 6 inches apart. No fruit should be next to another.

   • 4

     Move around the tree, repeating the process on each branch.

   • 5

     Rake the peaches from the soil around the tree and compost them or dispose of them.