Why Do Apricot Trees Drop Flowers and Fruit? Detailed Explanation of Causes and Solutions
Anyone who grows apricot trees knows that the fruit set rate of apricot trees is extremely low, and they are also highly prone to flower and fruit drop. Many apricot trees drop a large amount of fruit during the young fruit stage, which has a huge impact on the growth and yield of the apricot trees and reduces the income of fruit growers. So what are the causes of flower and fruit drop in apricot trees? How should it be solved? Let's find out together.
1. Insufficient fertilizer and water
Apricot trees have strong drought resistance and basically do not need watering during growth, but in severe drought, if watering is not timely, it will cause serious flower and fruit drop. In addition, to ensure the yield of apricot trees, fertilizer and water management is indispensable, especially phosphorus, potassium and other trace elements, which are essential. Once fertilizer deficiency occurs, it will lead to nutrient deficiency in the plant and weakened tree vigor, preventing normal flowering and fruiting, resulting in many flower buds but a low amount of fruit set.
Solution: Flowering and fruiting of apricot trees consumes a great deal of nutrients, so quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer should be applied in time, together with a small amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. During the fruit expansion stage, nitrogen fertilizer and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied to promote flower bud differentiation of apricot trees and lay the foundation for a bumper harvest the following year. Water timely during drought to ensure sufficient moisture for plant growth, and do a good job of drainage during the rainy season to avoid waterlogging that damages the roots.
2. Low pollination rate
Apricot flowers themselves have a low self-pollination rate. When pollination quality is poor, a large number of flowers will drop. Even if pollination can occur, after fruit set, a large number of young fruit will drop when their quality is poor.
Solution: When establishing an orchard, the main cultivar should be selected from varieties with few abortive flowers and a high natural pollination fruit set rate, and other pollinating varieties should be planted, generally at a ratio of about 1:3-4. The flowering and fruiting periods of the pollinating varieties and the main cultivar should be consistent. Artificial supplementary pollination can also be adopted to increase the fruit set rate and reduce flower and fruit drop.
3. Climatic factors
Climatic factors not only affect apricot trees, but affect all fruit trees. If apricot trees encounter severe late spring cold during the flowering period, a large number of flowers will drop. After fruit set, low-temperature weather is relatively rare, but storms and heavy rain can occur, which can also lead to fruit drop.
Solution: Keep constant watch on weather forecasts and take preventive measures before severe weather arrives to minimize losses as much as possible.
4. Diseases and insect pests
The diseases and insect pests that cause flower and fruit drop in apricot trees include scarab beetles, apricot weevils and almond sawflies. They gnaw on the young buds, flowers and fruits of apricot trees, causing a large number of flowers and fruits to fall off, with great harm. The same is true for diseases. Once infected with disease, flowers and fruits are very likely to drop under adverse weather.
Solution: For diseases and insect pests, prevention is more important than treatment. Strengthen fertilizer and water management of apricot trees, apply more organic fertilizer and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to enhance disease resistance, and control diseases and insect pests promptly when found.
The above is an introduction to the causes and solutions of flower and fruit drop in apricot trees. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.