The Best Time and Methods for Grafting Loquat Trees
The loquat is said to be “the only fruit tree that embodies the qi of all four seasons.” Its taste is sweet and it is quite nutritious. To make loquats even juicier and more delicious, some growers use grafting techniques. So do you know when is a good time to graft a loquat tree? How do you graft it? Today let's find out together.
When is a good time to graft a loquat tree?
The grafting time for loquat trees is best on sunny days in spring from February to April and in autumn from September to November. Choose a mother tree that has fruited for more than three years and is high-quality and high-yielding, and cut lignified spring shoots from the outer part or the middle-upper part of its canopy to use as scions for grafting. First put them in clean water and use a laundry brush to brush the fuzz off the scions in one direction, then let them dry, and they are ready for bud grafting; it is best to use them fresh right after collecting.
How do you graft?
1. Rootstock treatment. 1--2 days before grafting, cut the rootstock leaving 15--20 cm, keeping 3--5 compound leaves, or keeping the water-drawing branch, which can reduce the rootstock's moisture, increase the rootstock's nutrient concentration and healing hormone concentration, reduce moisture inside the film after binding, and improve the survival rate. If the rootstock is left too short, it is inconvenient to graft and affects grafting speed and survival rate.
2. Grafting. Choose a sunny day to do it. Use the flatter side of the scion as the long cut surface; first make a slanted cut on its back with a knife at a 45-degree angle, then turn it over and make a flat cut, 1.5--2 cm long, just reaching the xylem. Keep 1--2 buds per scion, and cut it off 0.3 cm above the bud. On the rootstock, choose a relatively smooth side, use a knife to slant off a small piece, then cut downward between the phloem and xylem into a cut opening close in size to the long cut surface of the scion, just slightly cutting away part of the xylem. Finally align the cambium of the scion's long cut surface with the rootstock's cut opening, and after mixing red clay with dichlorvos, apply it onto the film to improve the survival rate.
3. Management after grafting. About 25--30 days after grafting, check the survival situation. If the grafted bud is found to be suppressed by the binding, carefully use a field knife to make a small opening in the film to help the bud sprout, and promptly re-graft any that did not survive. When the scion bud grows to 4--10 cm. Grafting position: cut back at 1.2 m or do not cut back.
How many years until a loquat tree bears fruit?
Generally, the fruit matures in May and June of the following year, and it also has the characteristics of fast growth and early fruiting. Grafted seedlings can try to flower and bear fruit in the second year after planting, each plant can reach a yield of 5 kg in the third year, and enter the full production period after five years.
What are the effects and functions of loquat?
1. Supplement nutrition and strengthen the body. Loquat contains rich nutrients. Eating loquat can enhance the human body's antiviral ability, reduce the possibility of being disturbed by viruses, and also supplement the human body with rich nutrients.
2. Regulate the spleen and stomach, and beautify and nourish the skin. Loquat leaves have a very good effect on regulating the spleen and stomach and preventing vomiting. Not only that, they can also beautify and nourish the skin.
3. Inhibit viruses and prevent flu. Eating loquat can also help the human body resist viral invasion and prevent seasonal flu. The method of consumption is also relatively simple. Both the fruit and leaves of loquat can inhibit viruses. Eat the loquat fruit or boil loquat leaves in water and drink it.
4. Treat uncontrollable hiccups in gastric cancer and inability to eat, treat vomiting and hiccups, cough, and spontaneous sweating from lung metastasis of gastric cancer. Loquat leaves can be dried to make tea, which has the effects of clearing heat and directing qi downward, and harmonizing the stomach and descending adverse qi. It is a good product for stopping vomiting and can treat various kinds of vomiting and hiccups.
5. Protect eyesight and moisturize the skin. Loquat contains rich vitamin B, which has a very good effect on protecting eyesight and moisturizing the skin. In addition, the nutrients rich in loquat have an excellent effect on promoting children's good development.