How to manage papaya trees in winter? A detailed guide to the latest methods
Papaya is a typical tropical plant, so papaya needs relatively high temperatures during growth. Its tolerance of low temperatures is not strong, and after winter arrives, because temperatures are low and frost is frequent, it is extremely easily affected. Therefore in winter we must pay attention to doing a good job of management work, so how should papaya trees be managed in winter? Below the editor will give everyone a brief introduction, let's take a look together!
1. Increase base fertilizer application
In winter, applying base fertilizer to papaya trees is the first management task to do well. If you want to grow safe, green organic fruit, then before the soil freezes, apply sufficient organic fertilizer to each plant to help the papaya trees overwinter safely. Usually in late September, deeply plow the soil of the papaya orchard and apply base fertilizer at the same time. The base fertilizer is mainly farmyard manure and homestead manure, combined with an appropriate amount of quick-acting chemical fertilizer, etc. Control the application amount according to tree age. If it is a young tree, then apply about 20-25kg per plant; if it is a mature large tree, then apply about 40kg.
2. Control autumn shoots
In autumn, the growth of new shoots enters a peak period, thus forming autumn shoots. If autumn shoots grow vigorously, then the papaya tree will consume too much nutrition, the tree vigor will decline, and the papaya tree's dormancy will be affected. So in October-November, carry out girdling on the smooth part of the papaya tree trunk, girdling to the xylem, then use agents such as Flower Promoter King to smear the girdled part. If growth is relatively vigorous, then use it about once every half a month; if the tree vigor is weak, once a month is enough. Appropriately smearing flower promoter to control autumn shoots can improve the dormancy quality of papaya trees, avoid the phenomenon of alternating bearing, and ensure that papaya trees overwinter safely.
3. Orchard cleaning work
After the autumn harvest of papaya trees, orchard cleaning work is also very important. It should be carried out after the papaya trees shed their leaves. Prune off old dead branches, and take fallen leaves and weeds out of the orchard in a centralized way for burning. Then also clean up the cracked bark and old bark on the main trunk, spray the tree with agents such as lime sulfur mixture and Tree Guardian General for disinfection, and eliminate disease bacteria and pests lurking on the tree to overwinter. Then the trunk should also be whitewashed with whitewash agent to play a role in freeze protection and heat preservation. Finally, carefully check and eliminate insect eggs in the bark and bark crevices, to eliminate sources of disease and pest infection to the greatest extent.
4. Do a good job of pruning
Winter pruning of papaya trees is also very important. The winter pruning time should be December-February. Do not prune too late, otherwise small-leaf phenomenon is likely to occur. When pruning, for the overly thick main branches on the trunk, thin out about two, from bottom to top, to improve the permeability of the tree crown. Then promptly thin out competing branches, water sprouts, and some fruit-bearing branch groups that will affect the tree vigor of the papaya tree. Then for whorled branches, overlapping branches and other branches, follow the principle of first thinning the strong and thinning the large, and adjust appropriately each year. Finally, also use methods such as thinning-out cutting, retraction, and branch pulling for pruning. After pruning, treat the wounds to avoid cracking and harm from disease bacteria.
The above is a brief introduction to how to manage papaya trees in winter. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!