How to establish a persimmon orchard? Detailed explanation of the key technical points for establishing a persimmon orchard

1. Site selection

It is advisable to establish the orchard on gently sloping land with convenient transportation, concentrated and contiguous plots, deep and fertile soil, good drainage, clay or sandy loam, and shelter from the wind and facing the sun.

2. Variety selection

Persimmon varieties suitable for planting in our prefecture include Fuyu, Jiro, Zenjimaru, Flat Persimmon, Fire Persimmon, Water Persimmon, etc. The first three are non-astringent persimmon varieties, and the latter are astringent persimmon varieties. Non-astringent persimmon varieties need pollinator trees, and the above three varieties can serve as pollinators for each other. The proportion of pollinator trees is roughly 8:1.

3. Seedling planting

1. Planting time: after leaf fall and before bud break, earlier is better than later. In our prefecture, the suitable planting time is from November to February of the following year.

2. Planting density: for conventional planting, spacing between plants and rows is 3 m × 4 m to 4 m × 4 m; for planned close planting, 2 m × 3 m. Planned close planting should be promoted as a priority.

3. Planting method: use a square arrangement on flat land, a rectangular arrangement for close planting, and a triangular arrangement or planting along contour lines on hillsides. The size of the planting hole should vary according to the soil quality. Generally, a planting hole of 0.8 m square is suitable. About 10 days before planting, apply 3000 kg of farmyard manure per mu and mix it thoroughly with the topsoil before filling it into the planting hole. Select vigorous grafted seedlings with a diameter of more than 0.6 cm and plant them from November to December in winter, or in February for spring planting. When planting, fill the soil while shaking the seedling so that the soil fully flows into the gaps around the roots, and gently lift the seedling to align it along the row and plant direction. The planting depth is best when the nursery soil mark is level with the ground of the planting pit. While filling the soil, tread it firmly. After filling with soil, build a soil ridge around the hole, then water thoroughly to settle the roots, and cover the tree with plastic film or rice straw to retain moisture. After the seedling is planted, cut the trunk at 60 cm above the ground to establish the trunk.