Cultivation Methods and Key Technical Points for the Turnjujube Tree

The turnjujube tree is edible, and its fruit can be used medicinally; it has the effect of sobering one up after drinking. Its trunk and branches are used as timber; the wood is hard and can be made into tools. Below is a brief introduction to the cultivation methods for the turnjujube tree.

1. Site selection and land preparation

The turnjujube has strong adaptability and prefers to grow in sunny, moist, fertile soil with good drainage, at a neutral pH. After choosing the site, dig a pit 1 m deep and 1 m wide; on sloped land, dig fish-scale pits to prevent soil erosion, and add plenty of dead branches and fallen leaves to the pits for use when planting the trees.

2. Post-planting management

Turnjujube seedlings grow slowly, so the management of young trees should be strengthened. Each year when weeds grow in spring and summer, loosen the soil and remove weeds; water promptly during drought; apply fertilizer three times, in March of spring, June of summer, and November of winter, to promote growth.

3. Training and branch bending

After planting, when the young turnjujube tree has grown to 1-1.5 m in the second year, bend the main trunk over so that it produces secondary branches, then use the same method to bend the branches so they spread out in all directions; this allows earlier fruiting and more fruit, thereby increasing economic returns.

4. Pest and disease control

The turnjujube has relatively strong vitality and good disease resistance. During the sapling stage, leaf blight and aphid damage are commonly seen. For leaf blight, use a 1:1:400 Bordeaux mixture before and at the early stage of the disease; for aphids, spray with a 2000-fold aqueous solution of 40% dimethoate.

5. Harvesting and processing

In winter, after the frost descends in November and following several frosts, when the fruit stalk turns reddish brown, harvest the turnjujube by cutting off the fruiting branches and storing them in a cool place; after 7 to 10 days of after-ripening, they can be sold fresh, or dried in the shade and pressed for juice for sale.

This genus of turnjujube trees has 3 species and 2 varieties, distributed in China, Korea, Japan, and India. In China, it is found in all provinces and regions except the Northeast, Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Taiwan, China, and it is also often cultivated in countries around the world.