How to manage apple trees after harvest? A detailed explanation of the latest technical points
Apple is a fruit that many people enjoy eating very much. The apple planting area in our country is now very large, and its planting technology is becoming more and more mature. After entering winter, the apple harvest season gradually arrives, and because apples are perennial plants. Therefore, after harvest, good management work must be done to ensure the flowering and fruiting rate of the apple trees the following year. So how should apple trees be managed after harvest? Let's take a look together below!
1. Apply base fertilizer early
When apple trees are bearing fruit, most of the nutrients are transferred to the fruit, so the nutrients in the tree body will drop greatly. If fertilizer is not applied in time, the tree's growth will weaken, making it difficult for the apple trees to overwinter, and they will be highly prone to freezing damage that affects the growth of the apple trees. Therefore, in order to ensure that the apple trees' growth is restored as quickly as possible, we should apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer as early as possible. It can also strengthen the growth capacity of the fruit tree leaves, increase the carbohydrate content of the fruit trees, ensure that the apple trees have sufficient nutrients, promote flower bud differentiation in the later stage, and improve the flowering and fruiting rate.
2. Fruit tree pruning
Pruning work is also an essential task after harvest. After harvest, we should promptly cut off overly long and overly dense branches in the canopy, thin and weak branches, and branches with pests and diseases. Also pay attention to the number of new shoots in autumn; there should not be too many, to prevent excessive consumption of nutrients. The growth of the canopy should be controlled, because this is exactly the growth period of autumn shoots. If there are too many branches, the wounds on the autumn shoot branches will have insufficient nutrients, the healing speed will slow down, and the apple trees' overwintering will also be threatened to a certain extent. The main purpose of doing pruning work well is to concentrate nutrients in the trunk, promote branch fullness and plump buds, and help the apple trees overwinter successfully.
3. Wintering preparation
After the fruit is harvested, winter gradually arrives, and at this time we should make wintering preparations for the apple trees. First, deep plow the orchard soil. The depth of deep plowing should mainly depend on the position of the fruit tree. For example, within the tree canopy it should not exceed 20 cm, while on the contrary it should be appropriately increased to about 40 cm. Then, before the soil freezes, water thoroughly for overwintering. The watering position should be within the tree basin. Then use quicklime, salt, water, and other materials, mix them thoroughly, and whitewash the trunk. There are many raw materials for whitewash. If you do not know how to mix it, you can buy special whitewash on the market.
4. Pest and disease control
When pruning apple trees, pay attention to observing the growth of fruit branches and the main trunk, and promptly eliminate any larvae found to have bored into the interior of the fruit tree to prepare for wintering. Cotton can be dipped in dichlorvos and placed into the entrance holes to kill some pests that harm the growth of apple trees. Then pay attention to taking the pruned branches, together with fallen flowers and fruit, diseased and disabled plant remains, weeds, and so on in the orchard, out of the orchard for burning and deep burial. Finally, pay attention to doing a good job of deep plowing and disinfection of the soil, reducing the base number of pests, diseases, and bacteria in the orchard, and destroying the overwintering sites of pests and diseases.
The above is a brief introduction to apple post-harvest management methods. Fruit trees after apple harvest are relatively weak. If management is not strengthened, it will severely reduce the flowering and fruiting rate of the fruit trees in the second year and even in each following year. Therefore, everyone must pay close attention and not neglect it. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.