The Latest Mulberry Cultivation and Management Techniques: A Complete Tutorial
Mulberry is the fruit of the mulberry tree. Mulberries are extremely rich in nutrients and offer various health benefits, with a delicious flavor, and they have been very popular since ancient times. However, traditional mulberry cultivation focused mainly on growing mulberry leaves to feed silkworms, but now, with the development of the cultivation industry and people's demand for mulberries, the area of mulberry cultivation aimed at fruit production is also growing wider. So how should mulberries be managed when grown? Below, the editor brings you the management techniques for mulberries. Let's take a look!
1. Shaping and pruning
Usually, before planting, the plant needs to be cut back to a height of about 25 cm. When the new shoots grow to about 18 cm, pinch them promptly to encourage the sprouting of side branches and increase the area of the tree canopy. In June of the second year after planting, once the mulberries are ripe, summer pruning should begin. Keep about 3 buds on each fruiting mother branch, then cut it back to encourage new shoots to sprout. In winter, cut off all the weak, diseased and pest-damaged branches that grew in summer. However, keep an appropriate number of fruiting mother branches, and cut off the poorly developed part at the top of the shoots, about 18 cm in length.
2. Bud removal and pinching
Bud removal and pinching should be done according to the age of the tree. For fruit trees that have borne fruit for more than two years, remove buds at the end of March each year, removing the adventitious buds on the main trunk and the weak buds at the base of the fruiting mother branches. Observe the growth of the fruit trees regularly, and begin pinching when there are about 5 new leaves at the top of the fruiting mother branches. The specific timing of pinching depends on the growing region and the age of the tree, but it is generally after Qingming Festival. Pinching at this time helps promote the tree's transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, improves the tree's light absorption, increases mulberry yield, and enhances mulberry quality.
3. Water and fertilizer management
Mulberries have a relatively high demand for water and fertilizer, especially during the budding period in spring and summer. If there is a lack of water during these two periods, replenish it in time. Otherwise, the new buds will grow weakly and are prone to pests and diseases, which can have a fairly serious impact on mulberry growth. Then, each winter, apply sufficient base fertilizer, control the amount of fertilizer well, mainly use farmyard manure, and reduce the proportion of chemical fertilizer applied. After each pruning, appropriately apply a quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer as a top dressing, and during the flowering stage, young fruit stage and other stages, appropriately spray foliar fertilizer to increase the sugar content of the fruit, promote fruit development, and improve quality.
4. Timely harvesting
Harvesting mulberries also involves certain techniques. Under normal circumstances, mulberries usually ripen around May each year. Observe the changes in the fruit: when the fruit color gradually turns from red to purple and the surface is glossy and translucent, it indicates that the fruit is more or less ripe. When harvesting, pay attention to the harvesting method: handle them gently and set them down gently to avoid breaking the skin, which would damage the fruit and reduce its storability. After harvesting, they should be placed in plastic boxes or similar containers, and after harvesting they should be brought to market promptly, because mulberries are relatively fragile, so injuries should be avoided and they should be brought to market as soon as possible.
The above is a brief introduction to mulberry cultivation and management techniques. Mulberry cultivation is relatively simple, but because mulberry trees have many pests and diseases, pest and disease prevention and management work should also be done well during the cultivation process. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. If you want to learn more related information, please continue to follow us!