A Complete Guide to Apple Bagging Time and Methods

Many fruits are now bagged during cultivation, and apples are no exception. Bagging can improve the microenvironment of the fruit, enhance fruit quality, prevent pests and diseases, avoid contact with pesticides, and reduce pesticide residue levels in the fruit. So when is the bagging time for apples? How should bagging be done? Let's take a look.

1. Bagging Time

The bagging time depends on the variety. Except for varieties prone to fruit russeting, early and mid-season varieties are generally bagged one month after petal fall, while mid-to-late-season varieties are generally bagged 35-45 days after petal fall. If bagging is done too early, the apple skin will be smoother, but the fruit stalk will be thinner, and later, if the fruit is heavy or windy weather occurs, it can cause fruit drop. If bagging is done too late, the fruit skin will be rougher, affecting the marketable rate.

2. Bagging Preparation

Since the specifications and quality of bags produced by various manufacturers are not consistent, and the bags are not treated with chemicals, some fruit growers have found that rotten fruit and other diseases often occur after bagging. Therefore, before bagging, the bags should be disinfected and sterilized to remove carried pathogens, and a fungicide and insecticide should be sprayed once on the fruit surface. In addition, apples after bagging and picking are highly prone to black spot disease and blister spot disease, which affect fruit quality and storage performance. Therefore, calcium fertilizer should be sprayed once or twice before bagging to avoid this phenomenon.

3. Bagging Method

Paper bags are generally chosen for bagging, as they cost less and are suitable for the vast majority of growers. When bagging, inflate the bag to make the paper bag expand, then insert the young fruit into the bag. Be careful not to let the paper bag press close to the fruit surface, so as to avoid sunburn. After bagging, tie the bag opening tightly, leaving the leaves exposed outside the paper bag. Double-layer bagging can also be done for better results, but note that the wire should not be tied around the fruit stalk, as this can cause fruit drop.

4. Regular Inspection

After bagging, regular inspections should be carried out. If bags come loose, hang down, or leak, they should be promptly handled and corrected. Also, after spraying, make sure the bags do not become wet and press close to the fruit surface, which would affect ventilation inside the bag and easily cause sunscald.

5. Post-Bagging Management

After bagging, orchard management should be strengthened. First, after rainy weather, deep plowing of the soil should be done in a timely manner to increase soil permeability and expand the distribution range of the root system, with deep plowing preferably at 80-100 cm. At the same time, fertilization should also be done reasonably. The amount of fertilizer applied to apples after bagging should be greater than before bagging, especially the application of trace elements. After bagging, water should be applied in a timely manner to prevent sunscald. Pest and disease control should not be neglected either, with focus on controlling leaf fall disease and insect pests, while also paying attention to special pests and diseases caused by bagging.

The above is the complete content on apple bagging time and methods. We hope it helps you. To learn more about apple cultivation, please stay tuned to us.