Latest Technical Points for Pomegranate Tree Management in Autumn and Winter
In recent years, as pomegranates have become more and more popular on the market, more and more people are growing them, but the yield has remained low, and the main reason for this is improper autumn and winter management. Autumn is the ripening period of pomegranates and also the key period for pomegranate management, so how should pomegranate trees be managed in autumn and winter? Let's take a look.
1. Fertilization
Autumn is the ripening period of pomegranates and also a period when temperatures drop. After fruiting, the plant has consumed a large amount of nutrients, resulting in weak tree vigor and an inability to resist cold waves. This will make the tree vigor even weaker, affect the fruiting rate of the following year, and is also the reason why the yield has remained low. Therefore, after harvest in autumn, fertilization should be carried out immediately, and heavy application is advisable, so that the tree vigor can recover quickly. Fertilization should mainly use organic fertilizer, combined with phosphorus and potassium fertilizer according to the application amount, and the fertilization amount for young trees should be halved.
2. Training and pruning
After harvest, the plant has a large number of old branches, weak branches, and diseased and damaged branches. These branches are a burden to the plant and will continuously consume the plant's nutrients while bringing no benefit to the plant, so they should be pruned in time to maintain the tree canopy. Cut off all these old branches, weak branches, and diseased and damaged branches to increase the plant's air and light penetration, which is conducive to the accumulation of nutrients in the plant and safe overwintering. Pay attention to the method when pruning; long pruning is not advisable, and proper heading back should be used. Each main branch should keep 2—3 secondary main branches. During pruning, protect the wounds well to prevent the invasion of pathogens.
3. Clearing the orchard and spraying
In order to reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases in the coming year, a thorough orchard clearing should be carried out after pruning. Collect the weeds and debris on the ground, fallen branches and leaves, and pruned branches together, then burn them. After burning, the ash can be used as potassium fertilizer. After clearing the orchard, spray protective agents. This can prevent pests and diseases, reduce freezing damage, and help the plants overwinter.
4. Mounding soil
In winter, the temperature is cold, and the root crown of the pomegranate is extremely susceptible to freezing, so before overwintering, soil should be mounded around the root crown to help it overwinter safely. The thickness of the mounded soil should be about 20-30cm. The mounded soil should be moist and loose. When mounding soil, keep a certain distance from the root system to avoid damaging the roots or exposing the roots, which would cause the roots to freeze. After the beginning of spring the following year, the soil should be removed in time to avoid a large number of root suckers sprouting and affecting plant growth.
5. Irrigating with freezing water
Irrigating with freezing water is also a common method for overwintering. Irrigating with freezing water is conducive to the safe overwintering of plants and prevents spring drought. It can also [reduce] pests and eggs that overwinter in the soil and reduce insect sources. Pay attention to the degree when irrigating with freezing water; it is best to water thoroughly once. After irrigation, loosen the soil in time to preserve soil moisture, so as to avoid excessive water accumulation in the soil causing compaction, making it difficult for the roots to breathe and leading to failure of overwintering.
The above are the key points for pomegranate tree management in autumn and winter. We hope they can help you. If you want to learn more about pomegranate cultivation, please follow us.