How to Grow Sterculia nobilis? A Detailed Guide to Planting Techniques and Precautions
Because the number of Sterculia nobilis plants cultivated is indeed relatively small, and most of the Sterculia nobilis fruits produced are not used for market sales, Sterculia nobilis is a fruit that many people are not very familiar with. However, the benefits that Sterculia nobilis can bring us are very numerous. It is believed that with the promotion of Sterculia nobilis and an increase in cultivation, the opportunities for Sterculia nobilis to appear on the market will gradually increase.
How to Grow Sterculia nobilis
1. Sowing and seedling raising
Sowing and seedling raising is also one of the commonly used propagation methods. When the follicle fruit matures and splits open, remove the seeds promptly and sow them immediately after collection to avoid dehydration from sun exposure. The sand bed should not be too wet; the ideal sand moisture is when it forms a ball in the hand without water dripping from between the fingers. Before sowing, the sand bed and seeds can be sterilized with thiophanate-methyl or chlorothalonil, and sowing is done by the spot-sowing method. After sowing, shade and moisture retention are necessary. Sprouting occurs after 7 days, and by the second spring the plants can reach 20-40 cm, and they can be transplanted in March to April.
2. Field planting
Spring is preferable, with a plant-to-row spacing of 4 m × 5 m being more suitable, planting 33 plants per mu. The planting holes should be 80 cm × 80 cm × 60 cm. Apply base fertilizer mainly consisting of organic fertilizer combined with a small amount of chemical fertilizer to promote early growth and rapid development of the seedlings and early production.
3. Field management
Sterculia nobilis has low soil requirements, a well-developed root system, and fast growth. Although it can grow well in poor and gravelly soils, well-drained, deep sandy loam is best. According to the growth habits of the Sterculia nobilis tree, it is tolerant of waterlogging but not of drought, commonly known as “mango on sunny days, Sterculia nobilis on rainy days.” Therefore, during the flowering and young fruit stages, water frequently to keep the soil moist; in dry weather, spray water over the entire tree canopy to aid flowering and fruit set and increase the number of fruits. Cultivation of Sterculia nobilis is very simple, especially after field planting has succeeded and the shape has formed, management becomes even more extensive. The trunk of the Sterculia nobilis tree has strong sprouting ability, so appropriate shaping and pruning should be carried out, cutting off the upper part of overly tall main branches to encourage the sprouting of side branches, making the entire tree shape elliptical, which is beneficial for fruiting and fruit harvesting. After harvesting, thin out overly dense branches, diseased and dead branches, crossing branches, water sprouts, and sucker branches to allow ventilation and light penetration inside the canopy.
Sterculia nobilis Planting Techniques and Precautions
1. Sowing
When the Sterculia nobilis fruit matures and splits open, it can be harvested together with the fruit, the seeds peeled out, and they should not be exposed to sunlight or dehydrated; they should be sown immediately after collection. The sand bed should not be too wet, to avoid affecting the germination rate. The seeds can be sterilized with thiophanate-methyl or a sterilizing agent, sown by the strip spot-sowing method, and will germinate in 1 week. During the initial germination and sprouting stage, move them into nutrient bags to increase the transplant survival rate and reduce management work.
2. Cuttage
Because the branches of Sterculia nobilis root easily, cuttage is mostly used for propagation. It is simple and easy to perform, and growth is rapid. In spring and autumn, cut current-year semi-lignified branches, or two- to three-year-old lignified branches, or even old branches, all of which can survive cuttage. Cut the cuttings to about 1.2-1.5 m in length and insert them into the soil about 0.3 m deep; when materials are limited, they can also be cut to 20-30 cm. As long as air and soil humidity are maintained well, roots will develop in about 1 month.
3. Root sucker seedlings
Sterculia nobilis has a relatively developed root system and strong regenerative ability. The root system often exposed above the ground can sprout root sucker seedlings, which can be dug up and field planted, also very simple and convenient.
4. Field planting
Spring is preferable, with a plant-to-row spacing of 4 m × 5 m being more suitable, planting 33 plants per mu. The planting holes should be 80 cm × 80 cm × 60 cm. Apply base fertilizer mainly consisting of organic fertilizer combined with a small amount of chemical fertilizer to promote early growth and rapid development of the seedlings and early production.
5. Fertilization
Young trees are generally fertilized 4-6 times per year, once every 2-3 months, with either organic or chemical fertilizer. Adult fruiting trees require more nutrients. To prevent tree decline, fertilize more than 2 times per year. That is, apply once in late winter and early spring, mainly organic fertilizer, applying 20-30 kg of organic manure per tree. The second time is after fruit harvest in August to September, applying a post-harvest fertilizer, mainly chemical fertilizer, applying 0.5-1 kg per tree, broadcast within the root zone of the plant.
6. Flowering period management
According to its growth habits, the Sterculia nobilis tree is tolerant of waterlogging but not of drought, and during the flowering and young fruit stages it requires appropriate soil moisture and atmospheric humidity, commonly known as “mango on sunny days, Sterculia nobilis on rainy days.” Therefore, during the flowering period, if dry weather occurs, water should be sprayed on the tree canopy to increase air humidity, which helps flowering and fruit set.
7. Pruning and shaping
If the tree grows vigorously but flowers and fruits little, appropriate pruning and shaping must be carried out to facilitate ventilation and light penetration inside the canopy, which can reduce psyllids and the sooty mold they cause, and also benefits flowering and fruit set. That is, after fruit harvest, thin out some dense branches, weak branches, and diseased and dead branches. The top main trunk branches should also be controlled. In summer and autumn, the branches and trunk can also be scarified to promote spring flowering.
8. Harvesting
After field planting, it fruits in 3-4 years, reaches full fruiting stage at 15 years, and yield tends to stabilize. A 30-year-old plant produces 125 kg of fruit. The main crop flowers from March to May and the fruit ripens from July to September; the secondary crop flowers from August to October and the fruit begins to ripen in mid-December. When harvesting, use a bamboo pole with an iron hook to hook the dark red fruit pods hanging on the branches down to the ground, then collect and sun-dry them. After several days of turning and drying, they become the Sterculia nobilis kernel commodity.
Growth Habits of Sterculia nobilis
Sterculia nobilis likes sunlight and a warm growing environment and requires a humid climate. When cultivating Sterculia nobilis, the soil requirements are not strict; good drainage and deep soil layers are required. The suitable temperature for the growth of Sterculia nobilis is between 23°C and 32°C.
Price of Sterculia nobilis
The price of Sterculia nobilis is not to be underestimated. For ordinary Sterculia nobilis trees, 1-4 trees cost 12,360 yuan, 5-9 trees cost around 12,355 yuan, and more than 10 trees also cost above 12,300 yuan. So the price of Sterculia nobilis is immeasurable. However, there are also some whose prices are not so high, namely the small saplings of Sterculia nobilis. Because they are not easy to cultivate, not everyone will buy saplings. For small saplings, 1-4 trees cost several hundred yuan each, and more than 10 trees cost only 300 yuan.
The reason the quantity of Sterculia nobilis on the market is small is not that Sterculia nobilis is difficult to grow, but that the market price of Sterculia nobilis trees is too expensive, and the small saplings are relatively difficult to keep alive. So if we want to obtain more Sterculia nobilis, we must first invest more in the cultivation of Sterculia nobilis saplings, so that it is possible to increase the yield and quantity of Sterculia nobilis.