The Latest Prune Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial

The prune looks very much like an apricot, only its color is purple, and the flesh inside is semi-transparent yellow. The prune originated in southwestern France and contains a variety of trace elements, with certain dietary therapeutic effects. It is now mainly processed into various snacks, or made into various foods. At present, prunes are also cultivated in China, but the cultivated area is not large. Now that we understand the prune, let us learn about prune cultivation techniques.

I. Building the Orchard

It is best to plant on mountain land, but do not plant in wind gaps. It is best if the planting site has deep soil, and the soil does not become compacted or heavy; loose, breathable soil is the best choice, ideally sandy loam, but not sand. The orchard needs protective netting to prevent wild animals from entering, and drainage ditches should be dug in the orchard.

II. Management of Young Trees

In the first year after planting, the main task is the growth of the aboveground plant, and pruning gradually shapes it into a tree form that is easy to manage and favorable for growth, such as the natural open-center form. The trunk is set at about 1.3 m above the ground, leaving 3 to 4 main branches to be headed back, and thereafter branches are retained level by level, with the rest pruned off. Then comes supplementing fertilizer and water to promote growth and thinning out excess buds and branches.

III. Flower and Fruit Management

During the flowering period, artificial pollination or placing bees in the orchard ensures the success rate of pollination and fertilization and increases the fruit-setting rate. During the flowering period, sudden low temperatures must be prevented. Spraying a 500-fold maleic hydrazide solution during the flowering period can extend the flowering period and avoid reduced fruiting caused by low temperatures. Fruit thinning is needed to remove weak branches and weak fruits, diseased branches, dried branches, dense branches and drooping branches, and space must be opened up inside to allow ventilation and light penetration. This can reduce nutrient consumption and concentrate nutrients in the fruit.

IV. Other Management

Covering the root area of the planted fruit trees with grass or plastic film is good for preserving soil moisture. Interplanting leguminous grasses such as Chinese milk vetch, whose roots can fix nitrogen fertilizer and increase soil nutrients, is also beneficial; in addition, in the middle growth stage the grass can be turned into the soil to be used as green manure. After the fruit is harvested, basal fertilizer should be applied: 30 jin per young tree and 80 jin per mature tree. Use the ring-shaped trench application method. Topdressing is applied once before flowering and once during the fruit-swelling stage. Each time, apply 1 jin of compound fertilizer per young tree and 2 to 3 jin of compound fertilizer per mature tree.

Prune cultivation begins with orchard construction, followed by routine field management, with the key period being the management during flowering and fruiting. In the later stage, it is mainly divided into certain management practices for young trees and mature trees.