To grow mulberry trees well, timely pinching is key
To grow mulberry trees well, pay attention to timely pinching
During the growth of mulberry trees, adopting the method of timely pinching is beneficial in three ways: first, it helps form a robust and well-proportioned tree body; second, it helps increase the number of shoots produced by the mulberry tree in that year; third, it helps improve the quality of mulberry leaves. Below is a brief introduction to the pinching methods during the mulberry seedling stage, young mulberry stage and silkworm rearing stage.
1. Pinching of mulberry seedlings. In the early growth stage of grafted mulberry seedlings (or cuttings), when the seedlings are about 30 cm tall, for mulberry seedlings with particularly vigorous growth, the tender tips can be pinched off to suppress the strong and support the weak. If multiple axillary buds sprout after pinching, bud removal should be carried out, leaving only 1 axillary bud to grow. In September, pinching can be done again; if axillary buds sprout after pinching, they should be removed immediately.
2. Pinching of young mulberry trees. Pinching young mulberry trees can increase the number of shoots produced per tree in that year. Young mulberry trees are generally pinched twice. The first time is in mid-May, when the young mulberry has 6-7 new leaves, pinch off the tender tips and keep 4-5 leaves; after pinching, apply 750-1 000 kg of manure per mu to promote the sprouting of axillary buds and increase the number of branches. The second pinching is generally carried out in mid-June, when the new shoots are about 50 cm tall. The degree of pinching should be determined according to the growth vigor of the new shoots. Vigorously growing new shoots should be pinched less, which can delay the sprouting of axillary buds; weakly growing ones should be pinched more to promote the sprouting of axillary buds; new shoots that are too weak may not be pinched, so as to promote balanced growth of the mulberry tree.
3. Pinching of mulberry trees during the silkworm rearing period. To improve the quality and utilization rate of mulberry leaves, mulberry trees can generally be pinched during the second molting of the silkworms, with the degree of pinching being to remove the large bud-mouth leaves and leave the small hairy leaves. The requirement is to pinch first for those to be used first, and pinch later for those to be used later.
1. Pinching of mulberry seedlings. In the early growth stage of grafted mulberry seedlings (or cuttings), when the seedlings are about 30 cm tall, for mulberry seedlings with particularly vigorous growth, the tender tips can be pinched off to suppress the strong and support the weak. If multiple axillary buds sprout after pinching, bud removal should be carried out, leaving only 1 axillary bud to grow. In September, pinching can be done again; if axillary buds sprout after pinching, they should be removed immediately.
2. Pinching of young mulberry trees. Pinching young mulberry trees can increase the number of shoots produced per tree in that year. Young mulberry trees are generally pinched twice. The first time is in mid-May, when the young mulberry has 6-7 new leaves, pinch off the tender tips and keep 4-5 leaves; after pinching, apply 750-1 000 kg of manure per mu to promote the sprouting of axillary buds and increase the number of branches. The second pinching is generally carried out in mid-June, when the new shoots are about 50 cm tall. The degree of pinching should be determined according to the growth vigor of the new shoots. Vigorously growing new shoots should be pinched less, which can delay the sprouting of axillary buds; weakly growing ones should be pinched more to promote the sprouting of axillary buds; new shoots that are too weak may not be pinched, so as to promote balanced growth of the mulberry tree.
3. Pinching of mulberry trees during the silkworm rearing period. To improve the quality and utilization rate of mulberry leaves, mulberry trees can generally be pinched during the second molting of the silkworms, with the degree of pinching being to remove the large bud-mouth leaves and leave the small hairy leaves. The requirement is to pinch first for those to be used first, and pinch later for those to be used later.