A Complete Analysis of Key Management Points for Pomegranate in Summer and Autumn

Summer and autumn are the periods of most vigorous growth for pomegranate, and also its flowering and fruiting period. The following technical points should be noted in its management.

1. Fertilization For young trees that have not yet formed an orchard, apply fertilizer once after two-thirds of the flowers have faded and once about 1 month before the fruit ripens. For large trees in full production that have already formed an orchard, in addition to the above two applications, one more fertilizer application is needed in the early stage of bud break and flower bud appearance. In terms of fertilizer types, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are mainly used in the early stage, and potassium fertilizer is mainly used in the later stage. The amount of fertilizer applied should be determined by the number of fruits produced. If there are fewer fruits, the amount of fertilizer can be smaller; otherwise, it should be more. 2. Summer and autumn pruning Pomegranate is a tree species that greatly loves light, and the branch distribution in the canopy should be sparse at the top and dense at the bottom, so that both inside and outside can be ventilated and receive light, and both can bear fruit. On the basis of pruning in winter and spring, pinching should be carried out in summer, vigorous shoots should be cut back or their tender tips removed, and attention should be paid to bud removal, removing excess sprouts, so as to reduce competition for nutrients. At the same time, this also helps the rational distribution of branches and leaves and helps ventilation and light penetration. 3. Protecting flowers and fruits and thinning flowers and fruits Pomegranate flowers are bisexual, and the abortion rate of pistils is relatively high. Generally, the proportion of complete flowers is only 10-25%, so the fruit-setting rate is relatively low. The flowering period of pomegranate lasts more than 1 month. According to how early or late they bloom, the flowers are divided into the first flush, second flush, third flush, and final flush. The number of complete flowers and the fruit-setting rate of the first three flushes determine the level of yield. Fruits set from first-flush flowers are larger in fruit shape, while late-opening flowers produce smaller fruits. Therefore, if the goal is to produce more fruit and large fruit and achieve high yield and good quality, it is necessary to increase the number of complete flowers and the fruit-setting rate of the first and second flushes. For this reason, on the basis of rational fertilization and four-season pruning, degenerated flower buds should be removed in a timely manner. The difference between complete flowers and degenerated flowers is that complete flowers have a relatively plump ovary, shaped like a peanut, and the pistil is higher than or level with the anthers of the stamens, while degenerated flowers have a thin and small ovary, shaped like a trumpet, and the pistil is lower than the anthers. 4. Control of main diseases and insect pests The main pomegranate diseases are dry rot and early defoliation disease. If disease is found in summer and autumn, Bordeaux mixture can be used before flowering, thiophanate-methyl solution can be used during the flowering period, and from after full bloom to the young fruit enlargement stage, sprays such as "Shadubufan" or thiram can be used, spraying once every 7-10 days for several consecutive sprays, and stopping application 1 month before fruit harvest. In addition, starting bagging at the young fruit stage also has a good effect on reducing the severity of dry rot. For the main pomegranate pest, the pomegranate fruit borer, sugar-vinegar solution can be used for trapping and killing during the emergence period, and fenitrothion solution can be used for control during the hatching period.