How many years does it generally take for Jinxiu crabapple to bear fruit?

Jinxiu crabapple, also known as chicken heart fruit, was first discovered in the home of a farmer in Maixin Town, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia. Its tree is strong with thick leaves, resistant to cold and drought, with beautiful fruit shape and bright color. It has always been grown as a small apple tree species, but in recent years it has also been promoted externally as a landscaping tree species, so how many years does Jinxiu crabapple generally take to bear fruit?

1. How many years does Jinxiu crabapple take to bear fruit

The age at which Jinxiu crabapple bears fruit varies depending on the propagation method and variety. Generally, seedlings grown from seed take 5 to 6 years to bloom and bear fruit, while grafted seedlings can bear fruit in 3 years, and layered seedlings can bear fruit in the second year. The maturity period is generally from early September to late October, depending on the length of the frost-free period. After the fruit ripens, it can remain on the tree for more than 30d and can stay on the tree until winter without dropping, with a higher sugar content in the later stage.

Jinxiu crabapple has strong cold resistance and is an excellent apple variety for both ornamental and edible use, as well as for picking and sightseeing. It is now mainly grown in the north, and fruit still hangs on the trees after snow, making it the first choice for building ecological gardens and tourist sightseeing orchards. In addition, Jinxiu crabapple also has high medicinal value. Its leaves, fruit and seeds can all be used as medicine, and it has effects such as promoting digestion and strengthening the stomach, regulating qi and strengthening the spleen, and promoting qi circulation and relieving pain.

2. Key points for growing Jinxiu crabapple

Jinxiu crabapple has a relatively shallow root system and a weak ability to absorb water and fertilizer, so it should generally be planted in places with fertile soil, loose soil layers and sufficient water sources. After planting and survival, attention should be paid to water and fertilizer management. After planting, weeds can be used as mulch, and depending on the weather, water about once every 7—10 days to keep the soil moist. Jinxiu crabapple likes fertilizer, so sufficient base fertilizer should be applied when planting, mainly organic fertilizer, along with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Jinxiu crabapple has relatively few pests and diseases, and it is enough to mainly control pests and diseases such as fruit borers and rot disease.

Although Jinxiu crabapple is not common on the market and there is a relatively large market gap, today's apple market still mainly uses large size and bright red as the main standards. A large-scale influx into the market can easily cause market saturation, so only small-scale planting is recommended.