What Are the Key Points of Autumn Management for Apricot Trees? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Techniques
Autumn is the harvest period for fruit trees and also the period when they store up nutrients. The key to autumn management of apricot trees is to maintain the assimilation function of the leaves, prevent early leaf drop, and improve cold resistance. Promote root growth and speed up flower bud differentiation. So how should apricot trees be managed in autumn? Let's take a look together with the editor.
1. Soil, Fertilizer and Water Management
First, apply base fertilizer in autumn. Before the Autumn Equinox, determine the amount of fertilizer based on tree age, tree vigor, crop load and soil conditions. Generally, for every 1 kg of fruit produced, 1-2 kg of fertilizer needs to be applied, mainly well-rotted organic fertilizer, applied in a semi-ring ditch or radial ditch dug around the outer edge of the canopy. In addition, for weak-growing apricot trees and those in full fruit period, after harvest, spray a foliar fertilizer of 0.2%-0.4% urea and 0.3% monopotassium phosphate once a month. When apricot trees enter the late stage of vegetative growth in autumn, reasonable irrigation is beneficial to nutrient accumulation and synthesis, and also helps flower bud formation. Also pay attention to timely drainage to prevent waterlogging, so as to avoid disease caused by waterlogging. Before the soil freezes, autumn plowing is needed, generally deep plowing of about 20 cm. When backfilling the soil, mix the topsoil with rotten leaves, weeds, dead branches or other farmyard manure.
2. Training and Pruning
After the apricot trees are harvested, bend and spread the vigorous growing branches to open the angle, so as to ease tree vigor and promote flower formation. For new shoots, perform a second pinching to promote branching and cultivate branch groups. For drooping branches, appropriately cut back. For water sprouts inside the canopy, pinch them promptly to inhibit their vegetative growth, and for water sprouts with no room to grow, remove them promptly. In addition, cut off dead branches, crossing branches, overlapping branches and thin weak branches inside the canopy to improve ventilation and light penetration of the tree body, so as to facilitate the formation of high-quality flower buds. From fruit ripening to harvest, the tree body angle should reach the optimal state. After harvest, the angle needs a period of stability, and the tree shape can be fixed in production by propping, pulling, bracing and other methods.
3. Pest and Disease Control
Apricot trees often suffer from pests and diseases after harvest, so spray pesticides at the right time according to the actual situation. For aphids, spray 100-fold solution of fenvalerate for control; for red spider mites, spray 1000-fold solution of pyridaben for control. After harvest, spray thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim solution once every half month to control bacterial shot hole disease of apricot trees. When leaves are affected, remove them promptly.
The above is an introduction to the key points of autumn management for apricot trees. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us. They often suffer from pests and diseases, so spray pesticides at the right time according to the actual situation. For aphids, spray 100-fold solution of fenvalerate for control; for red spider mites, spray 1000-fold solution of pyridaben for control. After harvest, spray thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim solution once every half month to control bacterial shot hole disease of apricot trees. When leaves are affected, remove them promptly.
The above is an introduction to the key points of autumn management for apricot trees. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.