Soft-seed pomegranate growing requirements and techniques: large-scale seedling propagation often uses the cutting method
For soft-seed pomegranate cultivation, choose a site with loose, fertile soil, shelter from the wind and full sun, convenient transportation, flat and open terrain, and complete drainage and irrigation facilities. For large-scale pomegranate cultivation, cutting propagation is generally used for seedling raising. After cutting, later-stage management needs to be strengthened. Wait until the cuttings take root and become seedlings, then apply topdressing. After the seedlings shed their leaves, they can be lifted from the nursery and planted out. When digging them up, the trunk and root system must not be damaged. When planting out, the seedlings need to be held upright, the roots spread out, the soil firmed over them, and water given to help them recover; simply arrange the planting density reasonably.
1. Growing conditions
Orchard establishment requires a site with loose, fertile soil, shelter from the wind and full sun, complete drainage and irrigation facilities, convenient transportation, and flat, open terrain. Before planting, first prepare the land and apply fertilizer, spreading 5000 kg of decomposed compost per mu and mixing it evenly with the soil. Dig planting holes at a spacing of 6 m or 7 m between plants and rows; the length, width, and depth of the holes should be about 0.7 m. If a nursery area is needed for raising seedlings, a small plot can be set aside in the garden.
2. Seedling raising
After cutting, later-stage management needs to be strengthened. After cutting, the main tasks are preserving soil moisture and raising temperature, and weeding and loosening the soil; this period needs to be maintained for about 40 days. Wait until the cuttings take root and become seedlings, then fertilizer and water management can be strengthened to help the young seedlings grow and develop. Topdressing can be applied 1 to 2 times, each time applying about 7 kg of urea per mu, and spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution on the leaves 1 to 2 times, which can supplement the trace elements needed for seedling growth. Control underground pests in time so they do not harm the root system.
3. Growing methods
Soft-seed pomegranate has very strong asexual reproductive capacity. For large-scale cultivation, cuttings are usually used to raise seedlings. First, collect cuttings from November to March, then cut from the mother plant one-year-old root suckers or vigorous water sprouts growing inside the canopy to use as cuttings. Among these, branches with mechanical damage, abnormal growth, or damage from pests and diseases are not suitable as cuttings. The cuttings should be about 20 cm long and have about 2 plump buds on them to ensure smooth sprouting.
The cutting time is roughly from February to March in spring; the temperature at this time helps rooting. Use professional tools for cutting, which is quick and convenient. After cutting, cover with soil and firm it, water, and also set a reasonable cutting density, with a plant and row spacing of 20×50 cm being most suitable.
4. Planting out
When the seedlings shed their leaves, they can be lifted from the nursery. When lifting the seedlings, open a ditch 35 cm deep on one side of the seedlings, then cut vertically downward on the other side about 30 cm from the seedlings, and dig the seedlings out together with the soil. When digging, be careful not to damage the trunk or root system. After digging them out, prune off the pest- and disease-damaged branches of the seedlings, and they can then be transplanted by grade. When planting out, hold the seedlings upright and place them in the planting holes, then spread out the roots, firm the soil over them, and water to help them recover, so as to increase their survival rate.