Introduction to winter peach cultivation techniques, teaching you how to grow winter peaches well

Winter peach cultivation requires selecting acidic or slightly acidic soil. After land preparation and fertilization, plant at a density of 2.5×3.5 m on flat land and 2×3 m on sloped land. After planting, fertilizer and water management should be carried out according to the different growth stages of the plant. For example, winter peach trees that enter the full production period 3 years after planting generally need to be fertilized 4 times a year. In addition, shaping and pruning should also be adjusted according to the stage. Let's learn about it together below.

Introduction to the shaping and pruning of winter peach trees!

1. Shaping

In the year of planting, leave 30-50 cm for short pruning to set the trunk, select and keep three vigorous shoots extending in all directions as the main branches (do not keep a central leader), and insert two bamboo poles diagonally to fix them, with the main branches forming a 45-degree angle with the ground. In addition, select 5—6 new shoots as auxiliary nurturing branches, and at 30 cm in length pinch the tips and twist the shoots to promote flower formation, and they will bear fruit the next year (after entering the full production period, gradually thin out the auxiliary nurturing branches). When the main branches reach 40 cm, pinch the tips to promote branch development, and at the same time select the vigorous shoot at the top as an extension branch and tie it to the diagonal bamboo pole. In the second year of pruning, short-prune the extension branch again to promote branch development, and select and retain an extension branch. This tree shape takes 2-3 years to take form, and when formed, the main branches and their extension branches are 1.4-1.5 m long. Maintain a 20—40 cm ventilation and light-transmission band between rows.

2. Pruning

Young trees: The focus of pruning young trees is to develop the tree shape and cultivate the main branches. In summer, timely twisting of shoots, twisting of branches and pinching of tips on the auxiliary nurturing branches can promote early flower formation. During winter pruning, thin out some densely growing branches, lightly cut long branches, leave more branches unpruned and make fewer short cuts, so as to expand the crown and achieve early full production.

Full-production trees: The main purpose is to regulate the vigor of the main and lateral branches and renew branch groups, prevent the fruiting position from moving outward, and enable consistent full production year after year. Summer pruning is carried out from June—July, mainly thinning out overly dense and excessive new shoots; autumn pruning is carried out within 10 days after the beginning of autumn, by cutting off all the tender shoots at the top of the tree to prevent excessive growth of autumn shoots; winter pruning requires removing overly dense branches, dead branches, insect-damaged branches, disease-damaged branches and weak remnant branches.