Summary of the Latest Technical Points for Orchard Management in September
In September, the weather gradually enters the Autumn Equinox period, and the climate turns cooler. For fruit growers, this is not only the harvest season, but also the most important period of the year. A single careless move may cause a serious drop in yield and quality. So how should orchards be managed in September? Let's take a look.
1. Training and pruning
In September, for dense tree canopies and shading within the crown, carry out reasonable branch thinning. The branches to be thinned are upright branches, adventitious shoots, and competing shoots on the auxiliary branches, so as to increase light within the canopy and promote fruit coloring. In order to moderate tree vigor, balance the growth and development of branches and buds, and increase light penetration in the inner canopy, for vigorous trees with narrow crotch angles and a dense inner canopy, the angles must be opened in time by bending branches. When new shoots approach growth cessation or have already become woody, promptly bend and soften 3 — 5 current-year upright new shoots sprouting from the lower part of the central leader extension or branches on the back of main branches.
2. Drainage and waterlogging prevention
September temperatures turn cooler, and it is also the season of continuous autumn rain. With more rainfall and higher soil moisture, pests and diseases as well as root rot are very likely to occur. Therefore, drainage and waterlogging prevention must be done in time to keep the soil loose and well aerated, create a suitable environment for root growth and development, and improve fruit quality.
3. Bag removal
The greatest benefit of fruit bagging is improving external quality and reducing pesticide residues. The improvement in external quality is most evident in smooth skin and coloring, and it is a commonly used technique in fruit tree cultivation today. September is also a good time for bag removal. For double-layer red fruit bags, it is best to remove the bags in two steps. Bag removal is best done on cloudy or partly cloudy days. On sunny days, bag removal should be carried out from 9 to 12 o'clock and from 3 to 7 in the afternoon. In addition, in high-altitude areas, bags can be removed 10 to 15 days before the normal fruit harvest.
4. Spraying to prevent disease and supplement calcium fertilizer
After bag removal, the fruit skin is delicate and highly susceptible to red spot disease. Stomata enlarge, leading to cracking. Combined with calcium deficiency, calcium deficiency disorders and other diseases are very likely to occur, causing cracks on the fruit surface and reducing storage quality and marketability. Therefore, after bag removal, spray 1-2 times with fungicide and calcium fertilizer in time. If necessary, spray organic potassium fertilizer, which can promote early coloring and coloration of the fruit. Timely harvest of cracked fruit is also very important. Generally, the harvest time is determined by the fruit's growth period, that is, the number of days from petal fall to maturity.
The above is an introduction to the key points of orchard management in September. We hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.