How many years does a citron tree generally take to bear fruit?
The fruit of the citron tree can be harvested, processed and boiled to make candied fruit, which is a fine dessert served to guests by the Bai, Yi and Naxi people of Yunnan. So how many years does a citron tree take to bear fruit?
1. How many years does a citron tree take to bear fruit?
A citron tree generally begins to bear fruit in 3-5 years. The fruit is oval, nearly round or spindle-shaped with narrow ends, the rind is pale yellow, and the flesh is colorless or pale milky yellow, crisp, sour or slightly sweet, and aromatic. The fruiting period is from October to November.
2. How is a citron tree planted?
1. For citron tree cuttings, select 2-3-year-old branches, remove the thorns, cut them into small sections of about 18 cm, and take cuttings in the high-temperature and high-humidity season of spring. Open furrows at a row spacing of 30 cm, with a plant spacing of 12 cm, insert the cuttings obliquely, leave 1/3 of the cuttings exposed above the ground, cover with soil, press firm, and water. Cultivate for 1-2 years before planting out.
2. Field management: cultivate and weed the citron tree 2-3 times each year and fertilize 2-3 times. From May to September, mainly apply human and livestock manure, and a dilute liquid cake fertilizer may also be applied as a top dressing. In winter, additionally apply superphosphate, which can be applied in a ring by opening a furrow. When pruning, remove water sprouts and overly dense branches. During the fruiting period, insert supports.
3. Reasonable fertilization: the first fertilization of the citron tree is before budding, and the second fertilization is after the Summer Solstice. For the second fertilization, 250 g of urea plus 500 g of superphosphate can also be mixed with water at 100 times and applied as a foliar top dressing with a sprayer to promote vigorous growth of the plant and enlargement of the fruit.
4. Pest and disease control: the diseases of the citron tree include sooty mold, which damages leaves, twigs and fruit. Among insect pests, there is the cottony cushion scale, which can be controlled with its natural enemy, the red ladybird beetle. Pine resin mixture can also be sprayed, diluted 8-10 times in winter and 20 times in summer. In addition, there are longhorn beetles, red spiders, aphids, and so on.
The citron tree can be used in courtyards as an ornamental landscaping tree species. Its fruit can also be made into candied fruit and is also a traditional Chinese medicine. Its dried slices have a clear fragrance, taste slightly bitter and slightly sweet, are warm in nature, and non-toxic. They regulate qi and soothe the middle, relieve bloating and reduce phlegm.