Experiences and Methods for Autumn Cultivation of Jujube Trees

1. Planting time: The earlier the autumn planting, the higher the survival rate. Mid-October to early November is preferable.

2. Digging the hole: Dig a planting hole 60 cm long, 60 cm wide and 60 cm deep, apply sufficient base fertilizer, fill with soil and water, and wait to plant. If the soil moisture is good, you can plant as you dig the hole, and water after planting.

3. Lifting the seedlings: Water the nursery before lifting the seedlings. The seedling 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.

4. Planting: Place the seedling into the hole, hold it straight, and fill with fine moist soil, then lift it slightly upward to spread out the root system, and finally fill with soil and firm it down. The planting depth should have the root crown level with the ground or slightly deeper, and after planting mound up a small pile of soil.

5. Pruning the trunk: For high-quality jujube seedlings, prune the trunk to a height of 20 cm; for lower-quality ones, cut off 1/3 or 1/2 of the seedling height, and also cut off one secondary branch to encourage branching.

6. Watering to seal the soil before freezing: Water to seal the soil before freezing in mid-to-late November.

7. Mounding soil for cold protection: To prevent sunscald and cracking at the root crown of the seedling, before laying it down, first build a slanted soil platform 20 cm high on the south side of the seedling, then gently press the seedling onto the soil platform, and cover with 20 cm of moist fine soil.

8. Time to uncover: Jujube trees are uncovered later than apples and pears; if a late spring cold spell occurs, it can be postponed. Uncovering is done in two steps: first remove a thin layer of soil, then gradually remove all the soil, and straighten the seedling.

9. Covering with plastic film: In spring, before budding, water to promote budding, then cover with film to preserve soil moisture and raise soil temperature.