Detailed Explanation of Summer Pruning Methods and Techniques for Jujube Trees

Traditional jujube orchard management is relatively extensive, and summer pruning is generally not carried out, resulting in disordered tree shape and small angles of scaffold branches. Although the tree is tall, ventilation and light penetration are poor, and yield is low.

Summer pruning of jujube trees not only facilitates ventilation and light penetration, but also regulates tree nutrition, increases fruit set rate, and improves the quality of fresh jujubes.

When to carry out summer pruning: Summer pruning of jujube trees should be carried out when the jujube head grows slowly, generally in early to mid-June. If done too early, secondary branches and jujube spurs are prone to sprouting new shoots that affect fruit set; if done too late, excessive vegetative growth will consume tree nutrition. In the south, this is unfavorable for producing a second crop of fruit.

How to carry out summer pruning: Summer pruning of jujube trees should focus mainly on thinning branches, combining branch thinning with heading back. Jujube tree pruning should follow these principles: “extend scaffold branches, head back weak branches, cultivate vigorous branches, and utilize water sprouts.”

Branch thinning: Thin out undesirable branches in the inner canopy, crowded new shoots, and water sprouts. Every 50 cm, one new jujube head can be retained to cultivate fruiting branch groups, which is beneficial for a second fruit set.

Long pruning: For new shoots sprouting below the cut of renewal, retraction, or heading-back cuts on scaffold branches, select and retain new jujube heads with good direction and vigorous growth and leave them unpruned, so as to cultivate them into main branch extension shoots and side branches, expand the canopy, and increase more fruiting positions.

Bud removal: Remove useless sprouting buds on the trunk and scaffold branches.

Pinching: Pinching refers to cutting off the bud at the tip of the jujube head to control its growth, promote secondary branches, and increase the number of jujube spurs. The degree of pinching can be determined according to branch direction. Where space is large, 5~6 secondary branches can be retained; where space is small, 3~4 secondary branches can be retained, so as to increase fruiting branch groups in the inner canopy, bear fruit in the same year, and even create conditions for a second crop of fruit.

Utilization of water sprouts: For trees with an asymmetrical crown, where branches are missing or there is growth space, inner-canopy water sprouts can be pulled out to fill the space and expand fruiting positions.