Detailed Explanation of Pomelo Planting Methods and Technical Points

The planting range of pomelo is very wide, and it can be grown in many regions across the country. There are many varieties of pomelo, and the commonly seen ones include red-fleshed and white-fleshed types. Both have very good edible value, and are especially very effective at reducing internal heat. Let's take a look together below at how pomelo should be planted!

Pomelo Planting Methods

1. Time. Generally, planting is done in September-November after the autumn shoots mature, or in February-March before the spring shoots sprout.

2. Density. Plant at a density of 3m plant spacing × 4m row spacing, with 55-60 plants per mu.

3. Planting technique. Digging planting holes in soil: Set distances with lines, dig fixed planting holes with a depth and width of 80cm each, then press green manure at a depth of 50cm, and backfill soil to a height of 40cm for planting. Ridge planting in fields: 8m with ditches, ditch width 60-80cm, depth 40-60cm for making beds, with 2 ridges per bed, ridge width 1.5m, ridge center spacing 4m, ridge height 20-30cm. When planting, moderately prune the seedling roots and place them in the center of the fixed planting hole, spread the roots, hold upright, and while filling soil, gently lift the seedling upward and firm it down, so that the roots are in close contact with the soil. Water thoroughly to settle the roots, make a 1m tree disc around the seedling, and cover with rice husks.

Fertilization Methods for Pomelo Trees

1. Recovery fertilizer (base fertilizer): Apply before and after fruit harvest. Its fertilization amount accounts for half of the annual fertilization amount. Large amounts of slow-release fertilizers such as green manure, compost, barn manure, and cake fertilizer should be applied, combined with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer.

2. Bud-promoting fertilizer (pre-flowering fertilizer): Generally carried out in February—March. This fertilization should mainly use quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, mainly applying human and livestock manure, appropriately combined with urea.

3. Fruit-stabilizing fertilizer: Apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer half a month before the June fruit drop. Decomposed human and livestock manure can be applied, and a 1% superphosphate extract can be sprayed.

4. Fruit-strengthening fertilizer: Apply in mid-to-late June, applying quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer.

Pomelo Pest Control Methods

1. Mite control methods: Spray with 73% propargite emulsifiable concentrate at 2000-4000 times dilution, 50% azocyclotin at 1500-2000 times dilution, or 20% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate at 800-1000 times dilution.

2. Scale insect control methods: During the larval occurrence period, continuously spray 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution or 20% fenvalerate emulsifiable concentrate at 3000 times dilution 1-2 times.

3. Citrus leaf miner: When most new shoots grow to 0.5-1.0 cm, begin spraying once every 5-10 days with 25% deltamethrin at 2500-3000 times dilution or 40% isocarbophos at 800-1000 times dilution.

4. Buprestid beetles: During the peak emergence period of adults but before they emerge from holes, scrape off the dead bark on the trunk, apply a 1:1 mixture of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate and kerosene to the damaged areas. During the peak period of adult emergence from holes, spray the tree canopy with 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution or 90% trichlorfon at 1000-1500 times dilution.

Pruning Techniques for Pomelo Trees

1. Pruning of fruiting trees. Pomelo fruiting trees generally only produce spring shoots, with few summer and autumn shoots, and have strong internal canopy fruiting capacity. Therefore, pruning of newly fruiting trees should be light rather than heavy. Generally, only remove improperly positioned water shoots, diseased and pest-damaged branches, dead branches, and overly dense and weak branches, retain more internal canopy branches, and do not shorten fruiting mother branches. For mature trees, the canopy has already formed. The main pruning targets are the lateral branches on the scaffold branches and the various types of shoots growing on them, with the purpose of regulating the balance between growth and fruiting. The principle of pruning is to heavily thin out strong trees, with fewer heading cuts, thinning out dense branches, upright branch groups, and lateral branches, while retaining drooping branches and weak branches to facilitate flowering and fruiting. Weak trees mostly bear fruit on strong branches, so the approach should be to remove weak ones and retain strong ones, and retain more leafy fruiting branches.

2. Pruning of aging trees. The renewal pruning time for aging trees is best before spring shoot sprouting or after growth stops and before summer shoots appear, from May to June. For old trees, skeleton renewal is used. During renewal, retain the main branches and secondary main branches. All 3-4 year old lateral branches on the canopy should be completely cut off, and no leaves should remain on the canopy, to promote the occurrence of strong shoots. After buds sprout and shoots grow, bud rubbing and shoot control are carried out, and a new canopy can be formed within 1-2 years, restoring fruiting. For declining branches that still have some fruiting capacity, the alternate renewal method can be used, renewing a portion each year, with the whole tree renewed within 2-3 years.

There are two planting times for pomelo, generally carried out in late autumn or early spring. Later-stage pest control work must also be done well to ensure high pomelo yields. Not only is the flesh of pomelo of great edible value, but pomelo peel is also commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and has a remarkable cough-relieving effect. Therefore, growing pomelo well is a very good income-generating choice.