A Complete Guide to the Latest Fertilization Timing for Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit, also known as the Chinese gooseberry, is a fruit with relatively high market demand. Its planting area in China is relatively large. When growing kiwifruit, whether for home growing or large-scale planting, fertilization work is very important. Fertilization includes base fertilizer and topdressing. Doing a good job of fertilization is the key to ensuring high kiwifruit yields. So when should kiwifruit be fertilized? Below, the editor brings you the fertilization timing for kiwifruit. Let's take a look!

1. Timing of base fertilizer application

The base fertilizer for kiwifruit should generally be applied in autumn. Applying it appropriately early after harvest is relatively beneficial to the growth and development of kiwifruit trees. The fertilization time is around October to November, because during this period, the nutrients synthesized by the leaves of kiwifruit trees will gradually return to the root system. This promotes root formation, and the tree body will once again enter a growth peak period. Also, because after the fruit is harvested, the leaves lack the water regulation provided by the fruit. There will be a short-term decline in function, so fertilizer and water are urgently needed to prompt the leaves to recover their function.

After the base fertilizer is applied, it should be properly combined with irrigation work, which can play a relatively large role in restoring and maintaining leaf function. It can also delay leaf aging, improve leaf lifespan, and extend the photosynthesis time of leaves. Applying sufficient base fertilizer in autumn can improve the nutrient accumulation of kiwifruit trees. It is very beneficial to the tree body after leaf fall and to flower bud differentiation in the second year. It can promote sprouting and the emergence of new shoots, and improve flower quality and pollination fruit-setting rate. The base fertilizer should be mainly organic fertilizer, combined with an appropriate amount of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, and according to actual conditions, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can also be added. The amount used should remain at about 3/5 of the annual fertilization amount.

2. Timing of topdressing

1. Sprouting fertilizer

During the annual growth period of kiwifruit, the number of topdressings should be kept at at least two times. The first is in February to March of each spring, applying a sprouting fertilizer once before and after the kiwifruit trees sprout. Because this time is the period of axillary bud sprouting and branch and leaf growth of the tree body. Reasonable fertilization is helpful in promoting these two processes of the tree body, thereby increasing the fruit-setting rate of kiwifruit trees. The topdressing fertilizer should be mainly quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, then combined with an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer,

2. Fruit-swelling and shoot-promoting fertilizer

Then around July in summer, after the tree body drops its flowers, apply a fruit-swelling and shoot-promoting fertilizer once. This time is the period of rapid expansion of young fruits. Whether it is the growth of summer shoots or flower bud differentiation, a large amount of nutrients is consumed. Therefore, we can reasonably apply topdressing about two times according to the growth vigor of kiwifruit trees. During this period, the topdressing fertilizer should be mainly a combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. The growth of kiwifruit trees should be observed, and if there are deficiency symptoms, corresponding adjustments should be made in time.

The above is a brief introduction to the fertilization timing for kiwifruit. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!