Winter Jujube Tree Cultivation Technique Tutorial, Latest Planting Method Explained in Detail

Winter jujube is a late-maturing excellent fresh-eating variety of the spineless jujube tree, also known as Miaoshangfu, Yanlaihong, Apple Jujube, etc. In recent years, market demand has exceeded supply, and it has extremely high economic value. Vigorously developing winter jujube production can yield relatively high economic, ecological and social benefits. Now let us take a look at winter jujube tree cultivation techniques together!

Morphological Characteristics of the Winter Jujube Tree

1. Branches: A deciduous small tree, rarely a shrub, up to more than 10 m tall, bark brown or grayish brown, with long branches; short branches and budless small branchlets are smoother than long branches, purplish red or grayish brown, zigzag-curved, with 2 stipular spines; the long spine can reach 3 cm, thick and straight, the short spine curves downward, 4-6 mm long; short branches are short and thick, rectangular, emerging from old branches; current-year branchlets are green, drooping, solitary or 2-7 clustered on short branches.

2. Leaves: Papery, ovate, ovate-elliptic, or ovate-oblong, 3-7 cm long, 1.5-4 cm wide, apex blunt or rounded, rarely acute, with a small mucro, base slightly asymmetrical, nearly rounded, margin with crenate-serrate teeth, dark green above, hairless, light green below, hairless or only somewhat sparsely pubescent along the veins, basal three-veined, petiole 1-6 mm long, or up to 1 cm on long branches, hairless or sparsely pubescent, stipular spines slender, often falling off later.

3. Flowers: Yellow-green, bisexual, 5-merous, hairless, with short peduncles, solitary or 2-8 densely forming axillary cymes, pedicels 2-3 mm long, sepals ovate-triangular, petals obovate-rounded, base clawed, equal in length to the stamens, disk thick, fleshy, rounded, 5-lobed, lower part of the ovary hidden in the disk, adnate to the disk, 2-locular, each locule with 1 ovule, style 2-cleft.

4. Drupe: Drupe oblong or long ovoid, 2-3.5 cm long, 1.5-2 cm in diameter, red when mature, later turning red-purple, mesocarp fleshy, thick, sweet, stone apex sharply pointed, base sharply pointed or blunt, 2-locular, with 1 or 2 seeds, fruit stalk 2-5 mm long, seeds flattened-elliptic, about 1 cm long, 8 mm wide. Flowering period May-July, fruiting period August-September.

Winter Jujube Tree Cultivation Techniques

1. Site selection and orchard establishment: When establishing the orchard, select high-quality virus-free seedlings that are robust in growth, have well-developed root systems, and are free from pest and disease damage. The orchard site should preferably be one with fresh air, pure water quality, unpolluted soil, flat terrain, open topography, abundant sunlight, fertile soil, good drainage and irrigation conditions, soil free of harmful and toxic substances, soil minerals within the normal range, and no pesticide residues or contamination.

2. Timely planting: Winter jujube has strong adaptability, tolerates drought and poor soil, and is not strict about fertilizer and water requirements. Orchard establishment should adopt a dense-planting dwarfed cultivation method, generally 2 to 3 × 3 to 4 m, with 56 to 111 plants per mu, which has an obvious effect on increasing the early yield of young trees. Winter jujube has relatively high light requirements, so the row direction should preferably be north-south.

3. Fertilizer and water management: Winter jujube has a relatively high demand for phosphate fertilizer. When planting, apply 0.5 kg of superphosphate and 25 kg of organic fertilizer per plant. Apply chemical fertilizer once each in late May, late June to early July, and early August every year. In autumn, apply organic fertilizer in trenches, with 50 to 70 kg of farmyard manure and 0.5 to 1 kg of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer or the same amount of three-element compound fertilizer per plant. Irrigate thoroughly once each before bud break, before flowering, during the young fruit swelling stage, and before overwintering; at other times irrigate appropriately according to drought conditions, drain promptly during the rainy season, and cultivate and weed promptly after rain. In autumn, plow and turn the tree disk.

4. Flower and fruit management: First, pinch the jujube heads at the early full-bloom stage, leaving 3 to 5 secondary branches for pinching according to growth vigor. Second, spray clear water, from the early flowering stage to the full-bloom stage, spraying clear water once every 1 to 3 days for a total of 3 to 5 sprays. Third, hormone treatment, spraying 10 to 15 mg/L gibberellin 1 to 2 times at the early full-bloom stage. Fourth, ring-barking and ring-cutting: for young vigorous trees, perform trunk ring-cutting at the full-bloom stage; when the trunk diameter reaches more than 5 cm, perform ring-barking, with a ring-barking width of 0.5 to 1 cm. Large trees in the fruiting stage can be ring-barked on the trunk, while young trees beginning to fruit are generally ring-barked on the main branches, so as to achieve both fruiting and tree maintenance. The peeled wound should preferably heal in about 20 days, so as to intercept nutrients on the tree and protect the fruit.

5. Training and pruning: The tree shape of winter jujube depends on planting density. For 55-100 plants per mu, a small canopy and sparse-layered form should be adopted to maintain ventilation and light penetration. The trunk height at planting is 70 to 80 cm, and 5 to 6 main branches are gradually developed year by year. During winter pruning and summer pruning, remove water sprouts promptly, shorten extension branches, and thin and cut dense branches and weak slender branches, so as to maintain tree vigor balance, keep the canopy ventilated and light-permeable, and promptly retract overly long fruiting branches, so that local branches can be renewed and rejuvenated.

6. Disease and pest control: The main diseases and pests of jujube trees include spider mites, peach fruit moth, jujube looper, jujube rust, jujube fruit-shrinking disease, jujube witches' broom, etc. During the bud break and leaf expansion stage, spray 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate 1000 times 1 to 2 times to control jujube looper; from late May to early June during the spider mite occurrence period, spray 15% saomanting emulsifiable concentrate 2500 times 1 to 2 times; from mid-July to mid-August, spray pyrethroid pesticides 2 to 3 times to control peach fruit moth and jujube looper. In July, August and September, spray fungicide once every 15 to 20 days; a 200-times amount or Bordeaux mixture can be used alternately with 800 times carbendazim solution or 1000 times thiophanate-methyl wettable powder to control jujube rust and fruit-shrinking disease. If jujube witches' broom is found, prune out diseased branches in mild cases and remove promptly in severe cases.

7. Harvest and storage: Winter jujube is a fresh-eating variety and is mostly picked by hand. On the same tree, winter jujubes mature at different times, so they can be harvested in 2-3 batches according to the situation. Harvesting in stages can not only increase yield but also improve quality. After harvest, they are generally stored fresh in cold storage; low-temperature conditions can inhibit ethylene production in winter jujubes. The best cold storage temperature is about 1 degrees C, and the relative humidity should be maintained at about 98%, to supply the market around New Year's Day and the Spring Festival.

Stage-Based Management of the Winter Jujube Tree

1. Dormant period (November to March of the following year)

① After leaf fall, remove grass bundles, scrape bark, prune diseased and pest-infested branches, dead branches, and damaged branches, sweep up dead branches and fallen leaves in the jujube orchard, and burn them in a concentrated manner to eliminate overwintering diseases and pests.

② After scraping off old bark, whitewash the trunk (whitewash formula: 0.5 part vegetable oil, 3-5 parts lime-sulfur mixture stock solution, 0.1 part salt, 10 parts quicklime, 30 parts water), and in combination with whitewashing, brush off overwintering ceroplastes scale and San Jose scale on the trunk.

③ Before the soil freezes, deep-plow the tree disk, pick up insect cocoons and pupae, eliminate pests overwintering in the soil such as jujube looper, green plant bug, peach fruit moth, jujube gall midge and peach hawkmoth, and water once with freezing water.

④ In late November and early March, spray the whole tree once each with 5 °Be lime-sulfur mixture to eliminate overwintering spider mites, scale insects and stem rot, etc.

⑤ In mid-to-late March, wrap a 6-10 cm wide plastic band around the lower part of the tree trunk and turn the upper part upward to prevent jujube loopers from climbing the tree; at the same time, tie a p1000-times fenvalerate pesticide ring, replacing it once every half month, to poison jujube loopers and jujube bud weevils.

⑥ Before bud break, apply nitrogen fertilizer in combination with watering. For 3-year-old trees, apply 150-250 g of urea or diammonium phosphate per tree; for fruiting trees, apply 500-1000 g of urea per tree. For jujube orchards with little-leaf disease or yellow-leaf disease, apply 500-1000 g of zinc sulfate or ferrous sulfate per tree by ring-shaped multi-point hole application. For saline-alkali land, spray 20-30 mL of Hekang saline-alkali eliminating agent on the ground per tree before watering. Cover young trees with plastic film after watering.

2. Bud break period (April)

① Before germination, carry out training and pruning, cultivate and adjust the framework structure, make the layout reasonable, and ensure ventilation and light penetration. Young trees 1-4 years old generally do not have branches thinned; for trees 5 years and older, handle dense branches and water sprouts; fruiting branch groups 7-8 years old should be renewed promptly; for trees whose branches have not been spread, spread the branches to open the angle.

② At the early germination stage, spray 0.3-0.5 °Be lime-sulfur mixture to control red spiders and scale insects.

③ Use blacklight lamps to trap and kill adult jujube leaf roller moths.

④ After germination, promptly wipe off improperly positioned or excess jujube heads.

⑤ In mid-to-late April, spray 5% cascade emulsifiable concentrate 1000 times, or 10% imidacloprid 4000-6000 times, or chlorpyrifos 1500 times + diflubenzuron No. 3 2000 times to control jujube looper, red spider, jujube leaf roller, jujube bud weevil, green plant bug, jujube gall midge, etc.

⑥ In late April, scatter phoxim granules within the tree disk 1 m from the trunk and shallow hoe to kill emerging jujube gall midges, jujube bud weevils, etc.

3. Branch extension and leaf expansion period (early and mid-May)

① In early May, spray diflubenzuron No. 3 2000 times plus 99.1% Caltex dieseline emulsifiable concentrate 200-300 times (or + guochongdi 1000 times) to control jujube gall midge, red spider, gypsy moth, green plant bug, jujube looper, etc., spraying twice consecutively at 10-day intervals.

② In mid-May, in dry years irrigate the jujube orchard once with pre-flowering water, and apply 150-300 g of diammonium phosphate per young tree and 500-1000 g per fruiting tree. For upright-growing jujube heads, spread the branches to open the angle, improve ventilation and light conditions of the tree body, moderate growth vigor, and promote fruit set.

4. Early flowering period (late May)

① In late May, pinch the jujube heads; pinch secondary branches from late May to early June. Pinch jujube hanging branches in mid-to-late June. The earlier the pinching, the better the flower and fruit preservation effect.

② Before flowering, spray 10% liuyangmycin 1000 times + 10% nicotine emulsifiable concentrate + 800 times thiophanate-methyl, or 2000 times clofentezine + 800 times thiophanate-methyl, to control jujube bud mite, jujube leaf roller, red spider, jujube black spot disease, etc.

③ From late May to early June, preferably after rain, scatter phoxim granules within the tree disk 1 m from the trunk to kill peach fruit moth and other pests.

5. Flowering period (June)

① When each jujube hanging branch has 3-8 flowers open, carry out ring-barking or ring-cutting. Generally, the ring-barking width is 1/10 of the trunk diameter, and the widest should not exceed 1 cm; healing in 25-30 days is preferable. Large trees and vigorous trees can be ring-barked somewhat wider, while small trees and weak trees should be ring-barked narrowly. Trees too thin or too weak for ring-barking can be ring-cut 2-3 times on the trunk or main branches at intervals of 3-5 cm, and after 1 week ring-cut once more. Ten days after ring-barking, apply 1000 times guochongbike to prevent collar borers. Generally, a jujube tree can be ring-barked only once per year, and individual overly vigorous trees can be ring-barked twice.

② In early-to-mid June, when jujube hanging branches have 5-8 flowers open, spray 15 mg/kg gibberellin once, and at the same time add 0.2-0.3% borax and 0.5% glucose to increase fruit set rate.

③ When about 50% of flowers are open, spray clear water 2-3 times consecutively in the evening at 2-day intervals, or add 0.3% urea or 600 times zaotefeng, to help preserve flowers and fruit.

④ In late June, manually capture pests such as scarab beetles, yellow-spotted stink bugs and jujube bud weevils.

③ From late June to early July, spray 2000 times mite clear + 2000 times baoer + 600 times iprodione + 800 times zaotefeng to control jujube leaf roller, peach fruit moth, cotton bollworm, beet armyworm, red spider, ceroplastes scale, yellow-spotted stink bug, ring rot, rust, jujube leaf spot disease, etc.

⑥ From late June to early July, apply 150-250 g of diammonium phosphate and 500 g of potassium sulfate per young tree, double the amount for fruiting trees, and irrigate once with fruit-promoting water in combination with fertilization. After watering, spread 20-25 cm thick wheat straw or weeds in the jujube orchard, then cover with soil and press firmly to prevent wind blowing.

6. Young fruit period (July)

① In early July, spray Bordeaux mixture at double strength once to prevent jujube rust. Use blacklight lamps to trap and kill adult leopard moths, and spray BT emulsion 500 times to control peach fruit moth and also control ceroplastes scale nymphs.

② In early-to-mid July, thin fruit: vigorous trees leave 1 fruit per jujube hanging branch, moderate trees leave 1 fruit per 2 jujube hanging branches, weak trees leave 1 fruit per 3 jujube hanging branches, so as to increase single fruit weight and reduce fruit drop.

③ In mid-July, spray 600 times jingjunte + 100-140 international units agricultural streptomycin + 600 times zaotefeng to control beet armyworm, cotton bollworm, jujube rust, jujube leaf spot disease, ring rot, fruit-shrinking disease, etc.

④ In late July, spray 400 times lüdebao + 1500 times baiweite to control jujube rust, jujube leaf spot disease, ring rot, red spider, etc.

7. Fruit swelling period (August)

① In early August, spray 1% agricultural antibiotic 751 aqueous solution 300 times + 100-140 international units agricultural streptomycin to control jujube fruit-shrinking disease and jujube spot disease.

② In mid-to-late August, spray 10% nicotine emulsifiable concentrate or 10% polyoxin to control jujube leaf roller, fruit borer, spot leaf fall disease and fruit disease.

8. Fruit coloring period (September)

① In early September, spray 1000 times diniconazole + 140 international units agricultural streptomycin + 600 times zaotefeng + Meilin calcium to control jujube rust, anthracnose, fruit-shrinking disease, peach fruit moth, ceroplastes scale, etc., and at the same time improve fruit quality and enhance fruit storability.

② In early September, tie grass bundles at the base of the trunk and large branches to trap overwintering pests such as jujube leaf roller, jujube owlet moth and red spider.

③ In mid-September, spray 600 times lunmeijunqing + 300 times potassium dihydrogen phosphate to control ring rot.

④ In mid-to-late September, apply base fertilizer in the jujube orchard. For trees 1-3 years old, apply 10-30 kg organic fertilizer, 0.25 kg calcium fertilizer and 0.15-0.25 kg urea per tree, using expanded-hole ring-shaped fertilization. For trees 4-8 years old, apply 50-75 kg organic fertilizer, 0.5-1 kg calcium fertilizer and 0.2-0.5 kg urea per tree. Trees deficient in iron or zinc can be given additional iron and zinc fertilizer.

9. Fruit ripening period (October)

① In early October, spray 600 times yinguo + high-efficiency calcium + agricultural streptomycin to improve fruit quality and storability and control fruit rot disease.

② Starting from early-to-mid October, harvest winter jujubes in batches; harvesting is best done in the early morning after the dew has dried.

③ After harvesting the fruit, spray the tree once with 600 times carbendazim or 800 times thiophanate-methyl, and pick up diseased and pest-damaged fruits for centralized destruction to reduce sources of disease and pests.