A Complete Guide to the Key Points of Post-Harvest Management Techniques for Cherry
From after fruit harvest to leaf fall, during this period the nutrients produced by the leaves are no longer consumed by the fruit, but are used for the further differentiation and filling out of flower buds, thickening of branches and trunks, maturation of tissues and accumulation of the main nutrients. Therefore, if management during this period is good, it will not only increase the tree's nutrient reserves and improve its overwintering ability and resistance to adverse environmental conditions, but also play a decisive role in the flowering, fruit set and growth vigor of the coming year.
1. Regulating the number of branches in the tree. After cherry harvest, those branches that are too densely grown, thin and weak branches, whip-like branches and diseased or pest-damaged branches should be thinned out or cut back, so as to open up the light path, fill out the branches, reduce unnecessary consumption, and help flower bud differentiation and filling out and branch maturation.
2. Preventing and controlling diseases and pests. The peach leafhopper, also called the floating-sinking insect, is the main disease of cherry in the late growth stage, and causes the most severe damage from July to September. On damaged peach leaves, yellow-white spots appear, and in severe cases the whole leaf withers and turns yellow and falls early, leading to weakened tree vigor, affecting flower bud formation and reducing the next year's yield. The preventive measure is: immediately after fruit harvest, spray once with 200-fold Bordeaux mixture or 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000-1500-fold dilution.
3. Scientific fertilization. From the end of May to early June, apply 50-1000 kg of organic fertilizer per tree; if 1 kg of superphosphate per tree is mixed in, the effect is even better. For the fertilization method, radial and ring-shaped application can be used alternately, with the position directly below the outer edge of the canopy. The fertilization ditch should be shallow on the inside and deep on the outside to avoid injuring and breaking too many roots, and then water once.
4. Foliar fertilization. After fruit harvest, spray a 0.5%-1% urea solution once every 10-15 days, and at the same time spray a 0.5% superphosphate solution, to improve the photosynthetic capacity of the leaves and increase the nutrients in the branches.