A Detailed Guide to the Latest Sapodilla Planting Methods and Techniques
Sapodilla, also known as Wufeng persimmon, is a well-known tropical fruit introduced from abroad. It is currently grown mainly in Guangzhou, Hainan, and Taiwan, China, and other regions with a relatively warm climate year-round. Sapodilla has been cultivated in China for some time now, but it is still very rare on the market. First, because the planting area is not large, and second, because its yield is not high. Below is the sapodilla planting method brought to you by Qinnong Web. Let's take a look.
1. Site Selection and Land Preparation
The choice of planting site mainly determines the survival rate of sapodilla planting. Sapodilla is a fruit that greatly loves light and warmth, so this determines that the year-round climate of the selected planting site must be relatively stable. Second, the planting site is best if it faces the sun, and the land should be relatively flat with no low-lying areas. Then, good wind shelter and good drainage are needed, and hills, plains, and slopes are all acceptable. There are only two requirements for land preparation: first, deep plowing of at least about 25 cm, and second, the soil must be finely broken up and leveled. The last thing is to apply enough base fertilizer, mainly farmyard organic fertilizer.
2. Sowing Methods
There are many sowing methods for sapodilla now, such as seed sowing, grafting, cuttings, and layering. The most primitive is seed sowing, and it is also a relatively commonly used sowing method. Next, grafted sowing is also very popular now. First, the survival rate is high; second, both quality and yield are guaranteed; and finally, the growth period can be shortened. So the method we most often use now is a sowing method that combines seeds and grafting. First cultivate the grafted seedlings and the sapodilla seedlings well, and then when everything is ready, grafting can be carried out.
3. Reasonable Close Planting
We usually plant in April and May each spring, and when planting we need to plant reasonably closely so as to ensure the yield and quality of sapodilla. Under normal conditions, one mu of land can plant 200 to 300 sapodilla trees. When planting, plant according to a row spacing of 1.5 to 2 m and a plant spacing of about 1 to 1.5 m. This can ensure good air circulation within the orchard.
4. Scientific Management
Management mainly includes watering, fertilizing, pruning, weeding, flower and fruit thinning, and clearing the orchard, among other tasks. Among these, watering, fertilizing, and weeding are carried out in combination, that is, they must be done in one step. Basically, fertilizing only needs to be done two to three times a year, usually by the method of trench fertilization. Flower thinning is carried out during the peak flowering period, while fruit thinning must wait until after the flowers fade and the fruits are as big as a finger, so as to ensure the work proceeds smoothly. The final orchard-clearing work is also relatively important, because it can prevent and control some diseases, and at the same time make full preparations for the yield of the coming year. Finally, it can also extend the service life of the sapodilla trees, so we must be careful and meticulous when clearing the orchard.
5. Assisted Pollination
In order to increase the success rate of sapodilla fruit setting, manual assisted pollination is a crucial task. There are two main manual pollination methods. The first is the manual point-pollination method. This is more time-consuming, but the fruit-setting rate is extremely high. It mainly involves applying pollen one flower at a time, which is rather troublesome; those planting on a small area can still consider it. However, for large-area planting, it is better to use the second method, the dusting method, because it is more efficient and the success rate is also not bad. Finally, the pollination time is best chosen to be completed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.