Detailed Explanation of Key Cultivation Techniques for Sanhong Honey Pomelo

The peel of Sanhong honey pomelo should also present a pale pink color, which is relatively rare even under the shade of leaves. The spongy layer beneath the peel is pink, and the flesh is rose-red. It is a very high-quality pomelo. Let us take a look at the cultivation techniques for Sanhong honey pomelo.

1. Establishment of the pomelo orchard

Choose a wind-sheltered, sunny area with abundant water sources and deep, fertile sandy loam soil to establish the orchard. The orchard land should be contoured in terraces, with a plant spacing of 3 m × 3 m, and triangular planting is preferable. As long as the new shoots of red-peel red-flesh honey pomelo have matured, it can be planted in all four seasons.

2. Selection of robust seedlings

Select one-year-old grafted seedlings with well-developed root systems and robust growth for planting. Under relatively good management conditions, the seedlings can quickly resume growth, and the tree canopy also forms relatively quickly.

3. Expanding planting holes and improving soil, increasing fertility

An important measure for improving site conditions is the foundation for early fruiting, high quality, and high yield. Expanding holes and improving soil generally begins in the second year after planting, and the best results are achieved when completed in the third year. The specific method is to dig strip trenches 60-70 cm deep and 40-50 cm wide symmetrically on both sides below the canopy drip line, fill in one load each of green manure and burnt soil, 1.5 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, an appropriate amount of lime and topsoil, apply them in layers, and compact them to improve the soil.

4. Reasonable pruning and correct girdling

1. Pruning principle: adopt thinning of branches, pruning more of the outer branches of the canopy and less of the inner branches.

2. Pruning time: young pomelo trees are generally pruned twice, namely summer pruning and winter pruning; fruiting pomelo trees are generally pruned three times, namely spring pruning, summer pruning, and winter pruning. Spring pruning is in February-March, summer pruning is in May-July, and winter pruning is half a month after fruit harvest, that is, October-November. Pruning method: do not use the “one-size-fits-all” method, focus on thinning the outer branches, and for denser canopies, the “skylight opening” pruning method can be used. This method can effectively control the canopy and promote the sprouting of inner branches without causing reduced yield due to heavy pruning. For inner branches, fruiting branches, dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and weak branches should be cut off. For vigorous pomelo trees that do not flower or flower little, girdling should be carried out in late September.

5. Fertilization methods

Use ring-shaped trench application. The number of fertilizer applications should follow the requirements of “base fertilizer applied in autumn, bud-promoting fertilizer applied cautiously, and fruit-preserving and fruit-strengthening fertilizer applied in combination,” with 3-4 fertilizer applications throughout the year.

6. Reasonable fruit thinning and bagging

First thin out poorly developed deformed fruits, small fruits, and diseased and pest-infested fruits. The fruit load is generally best at a leaf-to-fruit ratio of (160-200):1. After fruit thinning and fruit setting, bag the fruits when the young fruits grow to a single fruit weight of 100-150 g and a fruit transverse diameter of about 5 cm. When bagging, pay attention to moderate tightness, neither loosening the bag opening nor damaging the fruit stalk.

Sanhong honey pomelo has large fruit, thin peel, seedless flesh, bright color, juicy and soft texture, and a clear sweet taste with slight acidity. It is a relatively popular fruit on the market and a very high-quality fruit. It can be planted if conditions permit.