Warm temperatures in the 4 to 6 weeks after fruit set will have a very beneficial effect in encouraging cell division in the young developing fruits. Such conditions will also aid the development of bourse and extension shoot leaves which will begin to contribute to the vital carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis which fuel the growth of young fruitlets.
- Any improvement of orchard site conditions, such that temperatures are raised slightly, may have a significant beneficial effect on cell division in the fruits.
- Aim to increase temperatures in their orchards during the first six weeks following fruit set, so as to maximise cell division in the young apple fruits.
- Choice of training systems has also been shown to influence fruit size, possibly via their effects on flower bud quality and cell division in the young fruitlets.
- Training systems which maximise light exposure of the canopy, such as Tatura or other canopy systems frequently improve cell division and produce fruits of larger than average size.