Nine key points to master when planting jujube trees in autumn

Planting jujube trees in autumn brings early sprouting, early flowering and stable fruiting. Moreover, as the temperature gradually drops, wounds on the underground roots heal quickly, evaporation from the above-ground part is small, and the survival rate is high. When planting jujube trees in autumn, pay attention to the following nine points.

1. Planting time

The earlier jujube trees are planted in autumn, the higher the survival rate. Generally, planting from mid-September to early December is suitable.

2. Digging the hole

Dig a planting hole 60 cm long and 60 cm wide, apply sufficient base fertilizer, backfill soil and water it, then wait to plant.

3. Lifting the seedlings

For autumn planting of jujube trees, high-quality seedlings with a high degree of lignification are best. Water the nursery once before lifting the seedlings. When lifting, the root system must be complete, with the main root more than 30 cm long, and with as little damage as possible to the lateral roots and fibrous roots. The seedlings should be planted as soon as they are lifted.

4. Planting

Dig the tree hole at the planting point, backfill part of the mature soil, then place the seedling in the hole and hold it upright, fill with fine moist soil, and lift the seedling slightly upward so that the root system spreads out, then fill with soil and firm it by treading. The planting depth requires the root crown to be level with the ground or slightly deeper, at most no more than 5 cm below the root crown, and after planting build a small mound of soil.

5. Trimming the trunk

For jujube seedlings of good quality, cut off 20 cm; for those of poor quality, cut off 1/3 of the seedling height, and also cut off one secondary branch to encourage new shoots.

6. Watering for freezing

Before winter begins, water once for freezing, at a time in mid-to-late November.

7. Burying in soil for cold protection

From the end of November to the beginning of December, the seedlings should be pressed down toward the south to prevent the large changes in soil temperature from causing sunscald above the root crown of the seedlings. When pressing them down, they must not be bent sharply, because the seedlings are brittle and hard and are easily cracked or broken. When pressing them down, first build a sloped soil platform 20 cm high on the south side of the seedlings, gently press the seedlings down onto the sloped platform, then cover with 20 cm of moist fine soil.

8. Removing the cold-protection soil

Because jujube trees sprout late, the time for removing the soil is slightly later than for apples and pears, generally in mid-April; if there is a late spring cold spell, the time for removing the soil can be postponed. Removing the soil is done in two stages: first remove a thin layer of soil, then gradually remove all the soil, and straighten the seedlings.

9. Covering with plastic film

Before sprouting in spring, water once to promote sprouting, then cover with plastic film to preserve soil moisture, so as to increase the survival rate of the seedlings.