How to manage apple trees during the flowering period? A detailed explanation of the latest key points
Apples are a very common fruit in our country, and there are also a great many people who grow apples. When growing apples, if you want to increase the fruit set rate and fruit quality of apples, then you must do a good job of management. Apples have different management methods at each growth stage, so how should they be managed during the flowering period? Below, the editor brings you the key points for managing apple trees during the flowering period. Let's take a look together!
1. Artificial pollination
Artificial pollination is the main management measure needed to avoid a low apple fruit set rate caused by abnormal weather, insufficient pollinizer trees and other reasons. First, we should select good pollinizer trees; the pollinizer trees must be ensured to have the same flowering period and abundant pollen. Then, before flowering, do a good job of collecting pollen: collect more when there are many flowers and less when there are few flowers. After collecting the flowers, gather the pollen by rubbing the styles of two flowers against each other, with clean paper placed underneath to catch the anthers, and then do a good job of storing them. Pollinate during full bloom, using an eraser or fur to dab it on.
2. Flower and fruit thinning
Carrying out flower and fruit thinning during the flowering period of apple trees can effectively prevent the phenomenon of alternate bearing in apple trees, and can also significantly improve fruit quality. During full bloom, do a good job of flower thinning, and then thin the fruit about one week after the flowers fade. The entire flower and fruit thinning work should be completed within one month, and we must control the amount of thinning according to the bearing capacity of the apple tree. Thin more from those with weak bearing capacity, and conversely, thin less. We can thin flowers and fruits according to branches and fruits, ensuring that the proportion of small fruit branches that do not set fruit is about 30%, and that of medium-sized ones is about 40%. Then thin the flowers by leaving one after every one removed, keeping one fruit about every 20 cm.
3. Strengthen nutrition
After apples enter the flowering period, because flowering consumes a large amount of nutrients, we must do a good job of topdressing during the flowering period to provide sufficient nutrients for the apple trees to bloom. Before and after flowering, spray urea about 3 times, then spray borax once during full bloom, and spray monopotassium phosphate once after flowering. The nutritional needs of apple tree growth are relatively comprehensive, so when topdressing, it is best to carry out a soil testing and formula fertilization once, so as to supplement nutrients accordingly, increase the flowering amount of apple trees, and improve planting benefits.
4. Pest and disease control
The flowering period is a period when apple trees are relatively weak, and during this time they are very susceptible to damage from pests and diseases. For example, scarab beetles, ring rot, etc., so we must do a good job of pest and disease control. Strengthen prevention, control the amount of fertilizer and water well, promote the flowering and fruiting of apple trees, and enhance the disease resistance of apple trees. When abnormal conditions are found in apple trees, find out exactly what pests and diseases they are, and carry out targeted control.
The above is a brief introduction to the key points of apple tree management during the flowering period. Great attention must be paid to the management of apple trees during the flowering period to improve the flowering and fruit set rate. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you everyone for reading and supporting.