How to fertilize a plum tree? Planting method and pruning time
How should plum trees be fertilized and pruned? Want to know? Let's take a look together.
1. Generally, after a plum tree is planted, it is recommended that you apply organic fertilizer at least twice, and in between apply a small amount of chemical fertilizer as appropriate. If you do not want to use chemicals, you can switch to organic fertilizer, but it is not really recommended that you apply compost containing poultry or livestock manure, because this type of compost generally contains a relatively high level of urea-form nitrogen, decomposes quickly, and moves quickly; if the timing of application is wrong, it will be harder for the tree to flower and set fruit. As for the current condition of your plum tree, because the nutrition is relatively poor, the nutrients originally stored in the soil are already insufficient and imbalanced, thus causing it to be unable to flower normally due to the lack of nutrients. Therefore, it is recommended that this year (only this year) you first apply some commercially available organic fertilizer. If the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio is 4-2-2 or 4-3-3, and the organic matter content is 60-70%, then in August, a single plum tree can be given about 10 kilograms. There is no need to dig trenches to bury the fertilizer; simply spread it evenly within the range of the canopy (the place where the tree's branches and leaves grow outward). The closer to the canopy, the more can be applied (because the place where plants absorb nutrients is the root hairs, and generally there are more root hairs farther from the trunk). Under normal irrigation, after about 2-3 weeks, you should be able to clearly see the plum tree's growth become more vigorous. In October, apply another 10 kilograms per tree of organic fertilizer, which should help with this year's flowering and fruiting. After fruiting next year, apply it once more, and you should harvest larger plums. If you want even larger plums, then for this fertilization it is best to use chemical fertilizer, because the speed and amount of decomposition of organic fertilizer cannot fully meet the needs of fruit growth. However, the fertilization before flowering next year needs to be readjusted, and you cannot follow this same method, otherwise flowers will be difficult to produce and fruit drop will be likely.
2. Make the plant relaxed, reduce its burden, increase sufficient light, improve ventilation, and reduce pests and diseases! Pruning stray branches and water sprouts is the most beneficial and effective method for fruiting plums! The fruit ripening period of plums is around the "plum rain period" between May and June, hence the name plum rain; and because the plum rain period differs by region! Its fruit ripening period also differs! For growers, this is felt even more strongly!
Plums mature, yet this is immediately followed by the "plant propagation period" in mid-June. The pruning period falls right in between, so you must seize it well! Missing the period will affect the productivity of fruiting plums.
3. Plum is a deep-rooted crop, so under normal circumstances it does not need special watering, unless the weather is too hot and the leaves curl slightly (not due to pests or diseases), in which case you should give moderate watering in the evening, about enough to make the soil moist and look slightly water-containing. However, after fruiting, because you want to promote the growth of the plum fruit, generally you should water at least once a week, and plums grown this way will be larger.