Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Planting Plum Saplings

The soil for planting plum saplings generally only needs to be loose, deep and fertile for them to grow. When planting, first dig a pit in the plot, with length, width and height of more than 80 cm. Then apply base fertilizer and cover with about 30 cm of soil. Then plant the sapling in, tamp the soil firm, and water it. After that, carry out management work such as fertilizing, watering, pruning and pest and disease control.

1. Soil: Plum trees have low requirements for soil; generally they can grow as long as the soil is loose, deep and fertile. If the soil is poor, crops such as broad beans can be planted to increase soil fertility.

2. Planting: First dig a pit in the plot, with length, width and height of more than 80 cm. Then apply base fertilizer, mainly fermented farmyard manure, with a thickness of about 20-30 cm, then cover with about 30 cm of soil. Then plant the sapling in, tamp the soil firm, and water it.

3. Fertilizing: Plum trees have low requirements for fertilizer. Generally, in the early growth stage, apply a multi-element compound fertilizer mainly based on amino acids once a month. When entering midsummer, apply a fertilizer mainly based on potassium dihydrogen phosphate once a month. After the fruit is harvested or after pruning, apply one more application of decomposed manure or multi-element compound fertilizer.

4. Watering: While fertilizing, water thoroughly to promote rapid dilution of the fertilizer and quick absorption by the plant. There is no need to water too much, but if the plum rain season occurs, drainage measures should be taken in time.

5. Pruning: During the growth period, plum trees will grow dense branches, long branches, miscellaneous branches and other branches that are not conducive to plant growth. So when flowering and fruiting, part of the side branches or main trunk branches can be cut off to allow more short fruit branches to grow. At that time, the flower center on the branches can be removed to promote flower bud differentiation.

6. Pest and disease control: During the growth period, plum trees may suffer from pests and diseases such as mites, red spider mites, brown spot disease and powdery mildew, which should be controlled in time. In spring, miscellaneous branches, diseased branches, diseased leaves, dead leaves and dead branches in the orchard can be removed in time and gathered in one place to be burned, so as to reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases. Some insecticides and fungicides can be sprayed in the orchard to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases.