What is a suitable planting distance for mandarin oranges (sugar tangerines)?

AbstractTo increase the yield of sugar tangerines, it is best to plant them using a dwarfed, high-density method. In paddy fields and dry land, the planting density should be controlled at about 200-300 plants per mu, with a plant-to-row spacing of about 1.5 m. For mountain planting, the density should be controlled at about 100 plants per mu, with a plant-to-row spacing of about 2.5 m. For short-branch fruiting seedlings, the planting distance should be about 3 m, and for mountain planting a planting distance of about 2 m-3 m is sufficient. For long-branch fruiting seedlings, a planting distance of 3 m-4 m is best.

Sugar Tangerine Planting Distance

When planting short-branch fruiting sugar tangerines in paddy fields, the planting distance can be controlled at about 2×3 m or 2.5×3.5 m. For mountain planting, a distance of 2×3 m is suitable. If they are long-branch fruiting sugar tangerines, the planting distance can be controlled at 3×4 m or 3.5×4 m.

Sugar tangerines can grow and bear fruit normally in general soil, but if you want the trees to grow quickly, bear fruit early, and produce abundantly and consistently, it is best to choose moist and fertile soil for planting. The orchard for planting sugar tangerines must ensure sufficient water sources, convenient irrigation and drainage, and loose, fertile, and deep soil. You can choose paddy fields, dry land, riverside alluvial land, or gully land. For convenient transportation, traffic should also be convenient.

If you want high early-stage yields of sugar tangerines, it is best to adopt a dwarfed, high-density method in fertile paddy fields or dry land, with the planting density controlled at 200-300 plants per mu and the plant-to-row spacing controlled at 2×1.5 m or 2×1 m. If planting on mountain land, the density should be controlled at 100 plants per mu, with a plant-to-row spacing of 2×3 m.

Sugar Tangerine Planting Methods

1. Choosing the orchard

It is best to choose loose, fertile, and relatively deep sandy loam or loam for planting. The oxygen content in the soil should meet the growth needs of sugar tangerines, and the soil thickness should preferably be more than 60 cm to promote the distribution and growth of the sugar tangerine seedling root system.

2. Managing the soil

Deep plowing and digging holes: After planting the seedlings, the soil should be deep plowed and the holes expanded regularly. Generally, the depth of deep plowing should be more than 40 cm. Hole expansion should be carried out from May to October, when temperatures are higher and organic matter placed into the soil decomposes more easily. To avoid drought stress on the sugar tangerine trees, do not carry out hole expansion during dry periods.

Cultivating cover grass: Plant some cover grass or forage grass between the young sugar tangerine trees in the orchard. During deep plowing, keep the cover grass between the rows; if it grows too long, just cut it shorter. Planting cover grass between rows can help the soil retain moisture, increase biodiversity in the soil, ensure soil fertility, and reduce production costs to a certain extent.

3. Planting time

Planting is mostly done in spring after the spring shoots turn green, because spring temperatures gradually rise and rainfall is abundant, which helps sugar tangerines survive. Sugar tangerines can also be planted in autumn and winter, after the autumn shoots mature and before the spring buds sprout. Planting sugar tangerines in autumn and winter can provide the root system with a longer recovery period. If the roots are damaged when planting in autumn, it will affect the flowering and growth of young trees the following year. Planting in winter can easily cause the seedlings to suffer frost damage, resulting in uneven shoot growth the following year.

4. Drainage and irrigation facilities

Drainage facilities: If the orchard is on flat land, drainage ditches 30 cm wide and 50 cm deep need to be dug in the orchard. For plots that do not easily accumulate water, one drainage ditch can be dug every other row. If the orchard is converted from rice fields or has a relatively high groundwater level, drainage ditches should be dug between every row. If the orchard is on mountain land, water diversion ditches should be dug along the flow lines so that rainwater can be drained promptly and seedlings can be prevented from being washed by rainwater, which would cause soil erosion.

Irrigation facilities: Drip irrigation or micro-sprinkler irrigation facilities can be installed to irrigate promptly during drought. Especially for mountain planting orchards with poor water retention, irrigation facilities should be well equipped to ensure sufficient water.

5. Planting

Seedling treatment: For the well-prepared sugar tangerine seedlings, trim off the main root at the root tip, or dip them in some rooting powder, and also cut off part of the branches and leaves.

Backfilling the planting hole: Add some organic fertilizer rich in microbial bacteria into the planting hole, then backfill the hole with surface soil mixed with decomposed organic fertilizer. For small planting holes, it is best to make them about 25 cm higher than the ground.

Planting: Plant the trimmed and treated seedlings into the small planting holes, allowing the sugar tangerine seedling roots to spread out, but avoid letting the sugar tangerine roots directly contact the organic fertilizer. Half a day after planting, water thoroughly with settling water, then tread the soil firmly. After treading firm, the covering soil must not be higher than the graft union.

6. Daily management

Within 30 days after planting the seedlings, ensure that the soil contains sufficient water, but not too much. The best condition is when the soil can be held in a ball by hand without dripping, and after releasing the hand the soil naturally breaks apart. If this is not the case, water promptly. Never apply too much fertilizer, as it will affect the survival and growth of the sugar tangerine seedlings.

Fifteen days after planting, the seedling root system will begin to recover. After about 1 month of growth, new buds will emerge. Once the new buds emerge, fertilization can begin. Fertilize according to the principle of small amounts and multiple applications, mainly applying humic acid water-soluble fertilizer that promotes rooting.