A detailed guide to longan cultivation techniques, a comprehensive introduction to planting methods
In the scorching summer, besides watermelon, longan is also in season. And in recent years, the profits brought by longan have led more people to cultivate it. Below is an introduction to its cultivation techniques for everyone's reference.
Longan cultivation techniques
1. Site selection and land preparation
Although longan has a certain degree of drought resistance, when planting it, you should still choose a place close to a water source. The soil is best if it is red soil, sandy soil, or yellow soil, with deep soil layers and strong water and fertilizer retention capacity, which is very beneficial to the healthy growth and development of longan. In hilly and mountainous areas, where the terrain is relatively gentle, the land should be thoroughly deep-plowed for preparation or terraces should be built, pits and holes should be dug according to the row and plant spacing, and sufficient base fertilizer should be applied.
2. Planting
Selecting seedlings for planting is a very important step. Only by choosing seedlings with well-developed root systems, robust plants, deep green leaves, and no pests or diseases can you ensure complete and vigorous seedlings and improve the survival rate and the rate of strong seedlings.
Except in winter, longan can be planted in all other seasons. When transplanting, make sure the seedling roots fully contact the soil, and water thoroughly to settle the roots. After planting, keep the soil moist to ensure the seedlings survive. It is best to choose overcast and rainy days for planting.
3. Field management
Fertilization: After young trees are planted and the new shoots have grown sturdy, the first topdressing can be carried out. Adhere to the principle of “light fertilizer applied frequently,” applying fertilizer 4 times a year. When fertilizing young longan trees, ring trenches, half-ring trenches, or side trenches (about 5-10 cm deep) should be opened slightly farther out from the outer edge of the tree canopy (here called the drip line), and soil should be covered after fertilization.
Pruning and shaping: Longan trees should be trained into a natural round-headed canopy. Generally, within 2-3 years after planting, once the trunk is 0.5-1 m and there are 3-4 main branches evenly distributed, prune year by year to increase the number of branching levels, finally forming a round-headed canopy.
Flower and fruit thinning: In years when longan blooms heavily, special attention should be paid to flower and fruit thinning. The time for thinning and removing flower panicles is around Qingming to Guyu, and at the latest should not exceed Lixia (when flowering begins).
In addition, during the cultivation process, pests and diseases such as downy mildew, damping-off, lychee stink bug, white moth planthopper, and longan leaf-roller moth should also be controlled to ensure normal growth.