How to Grow Waxberry from Seed? Detailed Guide to Planting and Seedling Methods

The waxberry tree is a fruit tree native to China, and every part of it is valuable: its roots, trunk, branches, leaves, fruit and pits all have high utility value. So what are the seedling methods for planting waxberry?

1. Seedling methods for waxberry

1. Dense sowing for seedlings

(1) Seed collection

Collect fully mature fruit from robust trees (fallen fruit is best), pour it into a wooden bucket (or basin), place it under running water, rub and wash it while floating away the flesh, then spread the seeds in a cool place to dry.

(2) Land preparation

Choose a plot with sufficient sunlight, good drainage and irrigation, and deep soil as the seedbed. Deeply plow it, evenly broadcast calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer (0.1-0.3 kg/sq m), then harrow finely, level it, and open drainage ditches.

(3) Sowing

Sow the dried seeds densely on the seedbed, with a density such that the seeds do not form layers (2.5-3 kg/sq m as the limit). Cover the seeds with fine sand or fine fertile soil (thickness ≤1 cm). After wetting the seedbed with clean water, cover it flat with agricultural film, then cover the film with soil and weeds (thickness >10 cm). The seeds sprout roots around the Beginning of Spring (“white showing”).

(4) Arch film

Around the Beginning of Spring, regularly spot-check the physiological dynamics of the seeds. Once signs of “white showing” are found, promptly and lightly remove the covering on the film and change the flat film to an arch film.

(5) Promoting seedlings

After arching the film, pay attention to regulating temperature, moisture and air (on sunny days, open both ends of the arch shed for 10-16 hours to cool and ventilate, and spray clean water once every 3-7 days), and strictly prevent rodent damage. When the seedlings reach the two-leaf-one-heart stage, the whole film should be uncovered during the day to harden and promote growth.

2. Transplanting small seedlings

(1) Land preparation

Choose a plot with sufficient sunlight, deep soil, and good drainage and irrigation as the nursery site. Broadcast insecticide (to control underground pests) and calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer and compound fertilizer (each 0.1-0.4 kg/sq m), then deeply plow, till finely, level, and open drainage ditches.

(2) Transplanting seedlings

When the seedlings have 3-4 leaves and 1 heart, transplant on cloudy days or in the morning or evening on sunny days (spacing 12×20 cm), planting them upright, evenly and shallowly (without exposing roots), and water thoroughly to settle the roots.

3. Promoting strong seedlings

(1) Fertilizer and water management

During the first week after transplanting, water once a day on sunny days. If drought occurs afterward, water promptly. Once the seedlings resume growth, supplement quick-acting root fertilizer and foliar fertilizer from time to time.

(2) Pest and disease control

Waxberry seedlings grown from seed have strong stress resistance and basically need no pesticide application. If pests or diseases appear, spray fungicides or insecticides according to the symptoms.

(3) Removing weeds

Especially from May to July, weeds must be removed while small and completely.

(4) Controlling height and increasing thickness

Thickness is a key indicator for waxberry seedlings grown from seed leaving the nursery. When seedling height is >40 cm, methods such as repeated pinching and spraying “chlormequat” and “paclobutrazol” can be used to increase thickness, ensuring they leave the nursery in the same year (reaching grafting specifications).

2. Planting conditions for waxberry seedlings

1. Altitude conditions

Waxberry seedlings are best planted on gentle-slope mountainous land at an altitude of 1300-1800 m.

2. Temperature conditions

The optimum average annual temperature for waxberry seedling growth is generally 15-21°C, the absolute minimum temperature is -9°C, and the average temperature of the hottest month does not exceed 28°C.

3. Rainfall and humidity

Waxberry seedling growth requires an annual rainfall of about 1000 mm and an average annual relative humidity above 70%.

4. Soil conditions

Waxberry seedlings are suitable for growing in loose, well-drained sandy red soil and yellow soil rich in gravel. The soil pH is between 4.5-5.5, and plants such as wolf fern, rhododendron, pine, fir, moso bamboo and sawtooth oak grow on it. Planting practice has proven that waxberry seedlings planted on sunny ridge gravel soil can bear fruit early, mature early, and produce sweet fruit.

5. Slope aspect and wind

Waxberry seedlings should be planted on mountainous sloping land with convenient transportation and a water source. There are no strict requirements for slope aspect; any slope aspect can be planted. Areas with too much wind are not suitable for planting, because too much wind affects pollination and yield, and the trees are easily damaged by wind.