How to Plant Dekopon Seeds? A Complete Guide to the Planting Method

Dekopon is also called Shiranui hybrid citrus. It has good flavor and excellent quality, and is a very popular variety in recent years. We know that the seeds of ordinary citrus can be used for sowing, so how do you plant Dekopon seeds?

1. How to plant Dekopon seeds?

Select ripe and plump Dekopon fruits. After eating them, keep the seeds and wash them clean, then put them in clean water to soak for about one week. After taking them out, remove the outer skin of the seeds. Prepare a flower pot with holes, place small stones inside, and fill it with organic soil and base fertilizer. Then plant the seeds in the pot, gently press the soil firm, and spray water every day to keep the potting soil moist. They can sprout in about 3 weeks.

2. Growing conditions for Dekopon

1. Temperature

The suitable annual average temperature for citrus cultivation is 16-22°C, the absolute minimum temperature ≥ -9°C, the average temperature in January ≥ 4°C, the annual accumulated temperature ≥ 10°C above 5000°C, and annual sunshine hours above 1200 hours. Citrus begins to grow when the temperature is above 12.8°C, grows best at 23—29°C, and growth is inhibited below 13°C or above 37°C. Autumn flower bud differentiation requires day and night temperatures of about 20°C and about 10°C respectively.

2. Light

Light is an indispensable light and heat energy source for citrus fruit trees to carry out photosynthesis and produce organic matter. Too strong or insufficient light will both bring adverse effects on citrus fruit trees. In closed orchards with insufficient light, twigs are slender, weak and not substantial, the germination rate and branching rate decrease, and even twigs and leaves die. Leaves are thin and large, light in color, flower quantity is low, deformed flowers are numerous, fruit setting rate decreases, fruits become smaller, the peel becomes smoother, coloring is poor, acidity is high and sugar is low, and maturity is delayed, etc. It can also promote the occurrence of certain diseases and insect pests. If the light is too strong, sunburn will occur.

3. Water

The suitable relative water content of the soil is 60%-80%. If it is lower than 60%, irrigation is needed. Too much rain can easily cause soil waterlogging or a high groundwater level. In citrus orchards with poor drainage, it will cause root death. Citrus requires an air relative humidity of about 75% as suitable.

4. Soil

Citrus has a wide adaptability to soil. Red soil, yellow soil, purple soil, etc. can all support its growth, but the most suitable soil for citrus growth is loam and sandy loam with a deep soil layer, an active soil layer above 60 cm, a groundwater level below 1 m, and a soil pH value between 6.0-6.5.

6. Altitude

Altitude has a great influence on temperature. In areas with freezing damage, an increase in altitude means an increased possibility of frost, and the acid content of the fruit also increases. This is because within a certain temperature range, the lower the annual average temperature, the higher the acid content of the fruit. The coloring of citrus fruit is also directly related to temperature. Moderate low temperature (3-10°C) can promote coloring. Temperatures above 20°C are not conducive to citrus fruit coloring.

In addition, citrus is sensitive to sulfur dioxide, fluoride, and some organic chemical pollutants in the air. Dust in the air also has an adverse effect on the growth and fruiting of citrus. Even dust substances such as soil are obviously harmful. Dust covering the leaf surface and fruit surface reduces photosynthesis efficiency, and the fruit appearance quality is poor. When the air is humid, dust covering the citrus tree body can also induce the reproduction of algae, hinder sunlight from shining on the leaf surface, and further reduce the photosynthetic rate