How many years does it take for salak (snake fruit) to bear fruit after planting?

Salak (snake fruit) is a region-restricted fruit and a plant of the palm family (Arecaceae). Its fruit is delicious and nutritious, and it is very popular in Southeast Asia and is a famous fruit. At present, a small amount is grown in South China. It is a tropical fruit. Growing salak generally takes several years of cultivation before the plant will bear fruit. Some people in areas with suitable conditions who want to understand this issue can now take a look.

1. Fruiting time

Generally, when salak is planted, it can bear fruit about two to three years after planting, but the fruit yield is unstable. After 3 to 4 years of planting, fruiting becomes relatively stable, with one tree bearing about 20 jin per year on average. In the rainy season the yield is about 12 jin, and in the dry season the yield is about 8 jin. Added together over the year, it is about 20 jin. So basically after two years it can bear fruit and you can start recovering your costs.

2. Raising seedlings

For propagation by suckers, take strong suckers from the mother plant, first put on a plastic sleeve, fill it with soil, and then wait a few months until the suckers grow roots before cutting them off. Continue cultivating them in containers, cut off half of the leaves, and plant them in a basket made of bamboo, which allows air circulation; they need to be covered with thin mud for shading during cultivation. For seed propagation, sow the seeds in a sand bed, and after they sprout, place them in plastic pots to raise the seedlings until they grow to a certain extent before transplanting.

3. Transplanting

Generally, the plant spacing for transplanting and final planting is 1.5 m, and the row spacing is 2 m or also 1.5 m. The plant and row spacing can be adjusted appropriately, and the planting density can be adjusted. After plowing the whole orchard, dig holes for planting. Generally, the digging depth is half a meter, and the width and length are both half a meter, and this can also be adjusted according to the size of the tree. For normal planting, long-term maintenance and management are required after planting.

4. Management and maintenance

For nutritional requirements, fertilizer is generally applied twice a year, about 3 to 4 jin per tree each time, once in the rainy season and once in the dry season, both during the fruiting period. Generally, compound fertilizer is used, and the proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the compound fertilizer are the same, for balanced fertilization. Generally, trace element fertilizers do not need to be used. Fertilization can use farmyard manure, which has comprehensive fertilizer effects, or chemical fertilizers can be applied strictly according to the formula.

Salak generally bears fruit after two years of planting, but it takes several years before fruiting becomes stable. Generally, there can be two choices from the start of seedling raising, and how early or late fruiting occurs is also related to management and care during cultivation.