Pruning Methods and Technical Points for Young Navel Orange Trees
Pruning navel orange trees is one of the important techniques in citrus cultivation. It is also the most effective method for shaping fruit trees to promote high citrus yields and improve fruit quality. It can also encourage the tree to form a high-yielding structure, allowing good ventilation and light penetration through the canopy, reducing pests and diseases, and enabling the production of premium quality fruit.
1. Shoot removal
Each time young trees flush new shoots, remove the unwanted new shoots when they are 1~3cm long; for new shoots that need to be kept on the tree, first pinch off the growing tips of the uppermost new shoots so that the lower shoots can catch up, keeping the new shoots of the fruit tree uniform.
2. Number of main branches
This is determined according to the variety, growth vigor, and orchard characteristics. For the natural open-center shape, 3~4 main branches are appropriate, and they should be evenly distributed, avoiding duplication, with a certain distance maintained between main branches so as to improve the light conditions for the lower main branches and side branches.
3. Pinching
Before the new shoots of the fruit tree stop growing, pinch the growing tips of the new shoots according to the tree shape requirements, keeping the required length, to promote faster maturation of the new shoots and facilitate further shaping and branch bending of the young tree.
4. Branch bending
For shaping and bending branches of young trees, use ropes and bamboo strips to bend the branches of the fruit tree, changing the growth direction and vigor of the main branches and side branches. Branch bending is a commonly used and effective method for cultivating main branches, side branches, and other structural branches of tangerine and orange trees.
5. Developing the canopy structure
If a branch can be either cut or left, leave it if possible as a supplementary nurturing branch. After the shoots emerge, establish 3~4 main branches; except for a few kept as supplementary nurturing branches, remove all the rest.