Question
Myth or truth? Some people say NOT to eat first year fruit off the tree. Or is it just that the first year fruit will not be as good and delicious? Or should the first year fruit just be left on the tree until it falls off? I noticed the instructions for the blueberry plants that I just bought ...it notes to pick the flowers off the first year in order to have better berries by the second year. Question is really about fruits like apples, plums, and pears in their first bearing year. Thanks...
Jane
San Francisco
Answer
A little bit of both. Myth is that the first year fruits would not be as delicious. Truth is that if a young bearing tree does not have to use energy to produce and ripen its fruits, it will grow that much stronger and fully develop its young body. It is difficult not to allow the first fruits from developing just as it is difficult for us to thin the fruits on a tree. Thinning fruits gives you bigger and more evenly ripened mature fruit. We as home gardeners want every fruit to mature. This can be bad if branches are heavily laden. Too much fruit will break limbs. And you know what, the blueberries in 2g cans are not first year plants. You can let them flower and fruit.
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