Planting Time, Plants per Mu, and Variety Selection Tips for Winter Jujube Saplings

Winter jujube normally ripens naturally in October-November on the Gregorian calendar. Because the weather in the north turns cold relatively early, it is named “winter jujube”. So when is the best time to plant winter jujube saplings? How many can be planted per mu? Which varieties are good?

When to plant winter jujube saplings

Winter jujube can be planted in either autumn or spring. Autumn planting is done after leaf fall and before the soil freezes over for winter, while spring planting is done after the soil thaws and before bud break. When planting, mark out and set points according to the planned row and plant spacing, dig planting holes 1 m square, keep topsoil and subsoil separate, and apply 50 kg of high-quality barnyard manure and 0.5 kg of diammonium phosphate per hole, mixing them evenly with the topsoil. Select high-quality vigorous saplings 1-2 years old after grafting, free of pests and diseases, with a well-developed root system, a sapling height of more than 120 cm, a ground diameter of more than 1 cm, and a well-healed graft union. After autumn planting, water thoroughly, pile up a mound of soil 20-30 cm high before winter, strip the lower branches and set the trunk height of the young trees, and tie straw bundles around the trunks to prevent wild hares from gnawing the bark; in spring, remove the soil mound and cover the tree basin with plastic film. After spring planting, water thoroughly, cover the tree basin with plastic film, and strip the lower branches and set the trunk height of the young trees.

What varieties of winter jujube are there?

1. Zhanhua winter jujube: The fruit is medium to large, with a shape similar to an apple. The average fruit weight is 14-16 g, and the largest fruit weighs 23.2 g. The skin is thin and crisp, turning reddish brown when mature. The flesh is tender and juicy, with a slight grassy pungent taste, no residue when eaten fresh, and excellent quality.

2. Chengwu winter jujube: The fruit is relatively large, with a long oval shape. The average fruit weight is 25.8 g, and the largest fruit weighs 32 g. The fruit surface is uneven, the skin is relatively thick, and the appearance is dark reddish brown. The flesh is fine and crisp, relatively hard, with little juice, a strong sweet taste, and top-grade fresh-eating quality.

3. Xuecheng winter jujube: The fruit is relatively large, round and slightly flattened in shape. The average fruit weight is 22 g, and large fruits can exceed 40 g. The flesh is loose and crisp, with a slightly coarse texture, and the juice content is medium to high, but the fruit quality is poor, and some fruits show a “seed outside the stone” appearance.

Planting methods for winter jujube

1. Site selection and orchard establishment: Winter jujube orchards should preferably be established on plots with fresh air, clean water quality, uncontaminated soil, flat terrain, open topography, sufficient sunlight, fertile soil, good drainage and irrigation conditions, and soil minerals within the normal range.

2. Timely planting: Winter jujube has strong adaptability, tolerates drought and poor soil, and is not strict about fertilizer and water requirements. Orchard establishment should adopt a dense-planting dwarfed cultivation method, generally planting 56 to 111 plants per mu, and the row direction should preferably be north-south.

3. Reasonable fertilization: When planting winter jujube, apply 0.5 kg of superphosphate and 25 kg of organic fertilizer per plant. Each year in late May, from late June to early July, and in early August, apply chemical fertilizer once as a top dressing. In autumn, apply 50 to 70 kg of farmyard manure and 0.5 to 1 kg of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer per plant.

4. Drainage and irrigation: Irrigate winter jujube trees thoroughly once each before bud break, before flowering, during the young fruit swelling stage, and before overwintering. At other times, irrigate appropriately according to drought conditions. Drain promptly during the rainy season, cultivate and weed promptly after rain, and plow the tree basins in autumn.

5. Flower and fruit management: During the early full-bloom stage, winter jujube should be pinched according to growth vigor, leaving 3 to 5 secondary branches and tipping them. At the same time, spray 1 to 2 applications of 10 to 15 mg/L gibberellin in the early full-bloom stage. During the fruiting period, large trees can be ring-barked on the main trunk, and young trees bearing fruit for the first time can be ring-barked on the main branches.

6. Training and pruning: The tree shape of winter jujube depends on the planting density. During winter pruning and summer pruning, remove water sprouts promptly, shorten the extension branches, and thin out or cut back overly dense and weak branches to maintain tree vigor balance, keep the canopy ventilated and light-transmitting, and promptly retract overly long fruiting branches.

7. Harvest and storage: Winter jujube is mostly picked by hand. Because the ripening period differs on the same tree, harvesting can be done in 2-3 rounds according to the situation, which can not only increase yield but also improve quality. After harvest, it is generally stored fresh in cold storage and supplied to the market around New Year's Day and during the Spring Festival.