Apricot Cultivation Methods and Key Technical Points Explained

AbstractSapling planting: It is advisable to choose a deep, breathable sandy loam plot; each planting hole can be given 20 jin of farmyard manure; the saplings to be planted should have two-thirds of their leaves removed and be covered with a shade net. Fertilization and irrigation: An appropriate amount of urea, potassium sulfate fertilizer, etc. can be applied; after planting, water once every 3-4 days, and after one month, water once every 15 days. Plant pruning: After the saplings regain their growth vigor, remove the shade net to determine the trunk height, and prune diseased and weak branches. Later management: Hand pollination on sunny days, and prevention and control of pests and diseases.

I. Sapling Planting

1. Choose to plant in a flat sandy loam plot with convenient drainage and irrigation and deep, breathable soil; the soil should not be compacted or heavy, then dig the planting holes well, generally twice the size of the root ball, with a plant spacing of 2 m and a row spacing of 3 to 4 m, and apply about 20 jin of farmyard manure to each planting hole.

2. After mixing the fertilizer with the soil, cover with 10 cm of soil, then place the sapling in, and slowly backfill the soil; when nearly level with the ground, lift the sapling slightly, then continue backfilling, then tread the soil firm and water it thoroughly, then mound soil up to the sapling's root crown; when planting the sapling, remove 2/3 of the leaves, then cover with a shade net.

II. Fertilization and Irrigation

1. When the sapling begins to sprout, an appropriate amount of urea can be applied; when new shoots grow, an appropriate amount of quick-acting fertilizer can be applied; for the leaves, mainly spray potassium dihydrogen phosphate and urea; during the flowering and fruiting stage, mainly apply potassium sulfate fertilizer; during the full fruit stage, yield-increasing bacteria can be sprayed; after fruit harvest, apply a large amount of farmyard manure, that is, winter cold-protection fertilizer, which helps replenish the tree's nutrients.

2. However, trees planted in the 1st year generally do not bear fruit; during this period, mainly apply farmyard manure and nitrogen fertilizer to promote growth. After the saplings are planted, water once every 3-4 days, which helps the saplings recover their growth; after 30 days, water about once every 15 days, generally adjusting according to the soil conditions.

III. Plant Pruning

1. After the planted saplings regain their growth vigor, the shade net can be taken off, and the trunk height can be determined at a position about 1 m above the ground; branches can be retained at separated angles, generally keeping 8 to 10 branches; when the saplings grow to half a meter long, 5 branches can be selected for focused training, and the rest can be prompted to send out new shoots.

2. During this period, pinching can also be carried out, and several levels of branches can be cultivated, removing overly dense branches; fruiting trees are usually pruned of dead branches, dense branches, slender branches, and diseased and pest-infested branches, so as to improve the crown structure and cultivate fruiting branch groups, causing them to sprout more new shoots; for aging trees, short cutting and root cutting should be carried out, during which the weak should be removed and the strong retained, and then fruiting branches should be cultivated anew.

IV. Later Management

If the soil moisture is high, it will affect the saplings' flowering, pollination, and fertilization, and lead to a decline in the fruit-setting rate, so hand pollination can be carried out on sunny days. In high-temperature summer, encountering rain easily leads to pests and diseases; during this period, promptly cut off diseased and pest-infested branches, and spray chemicals to sterilize and kill insects, so as to reduce losses. During the saplings' growth process, receiving sufficient light is beneficial for fruit expansion and for enhancing quality, so sufficient nutrients need to be supplied at each growth stage.