In loquat cultivation, autumn and winter management is key

Loquat is a fruit that comes to market in spring in our province, with a high market price and good returns. Loquat generally blooms in autumn and winter, with a flowering period of about 90 days. Because flowering and fruiting consume a large amount of nutrients, and because it is prone to freezing damage in winter, strengthening autumn and winter management of loquat is the guarantee of obtaining high quality and high yield. The following three main aspects should be well handled.

1. Apply overwintering fertilizer heavily. In late autumn and early winter, dig a ring-shaped trench 30 cm deep and 40 cm wide below the drip line of the loquat, generally applying 20 kg of decomposed cow and pig manure, 1.5 kg of compound fertilizer and 2 kg of bran fertilizer per fruiting tree, mix the fertilizers thoroughly and apply them in the trench, then cover with soil. At the same time, mound soil about 10 cm around the tree disc to protect the root system and improve the plant's ability to resist cold and overwinter.

2. Apply foliar fertilizer appropriately. During the flower bud stage and young fruit stage of loquat, use 0.2% urea, 0.2% monopotassium phosphate, 0.2% borax solution plus 2000 times fenvalerate liquid, spraying once every 7-10 days, evenly wetting all branches and leaves, spraying 2-3 times in succession, which can increase the fruit-setting rate of loquat and promote the expansion of loquat young fruit.

3. Prevent and control pests and diseases. Spray once each before and after loquat flowering and after fruiting with a mixture of 1000 times dichlorvos and 800 times zhibaoling, to prevent loquat flowers and fruits from being damaged by tussock moths, leaf spot and other pests and diseases, reduce flower and fruit drop, and increase yield.