How to Grow Chicken-Heart Wampee? A Complete Guide to Practical Methods
How to grow chicken-heart wampee? For guidance on growing chicken-heart wampee, you can refer to the following methods: 1. Main cultivated varieties. At present, the main cultivated varieties are chicken-heart wampee, selected large chicken-heart wampee, and others. 2. Environmental requirements of wampee. (1) Temperature: Areas with an annual average temperature above 20°C and an average January temperature above 12...
How to grow chicken-heart wampee? Here is the guidance.
For growing chicken-heart wampee, you can refer to the following methods:
I. Main cultivated varieties. At present, the main cultivated varieties are chicken-heart wampee, selected large chicken-heart wampee, and others.
II. Environmental requirements of wampee
(1) Temperature: Areas with an annual average temperature above 20°C and an average January temperature above 12°C are most suitable. When the temperature falls below 0°C, adult trees may suffer frost damage, and young trees also have poor cold tolerance.
(2) Water: Wampee is an evergreen fruit tree year-round and needs a humid environment and sufficient water. It grows well in areas with annual rainfall above 1500 mm that is evenly distributed. Excessive water or rainfall that is too concentrated is unfavorable to the growth, development, flowering, and fruiting of wampee.
(3) Light: With sufficient light, the branches and leaves inside the canopy can absorb scattered light for photosynthesis, expanding the photosynthetic area, enhancing the accumulation of nutrients in the tree, expanding the fruiting area, and improving fruit quality and yield. Insufficient light affects the plant's photosynthesis and nutrient accumulation, which is unfavorable to plant growth and development.
(4) Soil: Wampee has low soil requirements and can be planted in clay loam and sandy loam, but different soils have different effects on the lifespan and yield of wampee plants. When planted in sandy loam with good drainage, fertile soil, and a deep soil layer, the tree is vigorous, has a long lifespan, and produces high and stable yields. When wampee is planted in barren soil, poorly drained and waterlogged heavy clay soil, the wampee tree has a short lifespan and low yield.
III. Planting techniques
(1) Planting time: Generally carried out from March to May, when there is more rain and the temperature rises, making it easy for roots to take hold and resulting in a high survival rate of plants. When transplanting bag-grown seedlings, the root system is less affected. In orchards with irrigation conditions, planting can be done in spring, summer, autumn, or winter.
(2) 2. Planting density: Generally 50-80 plants per mu, with row spacing of 3 m x 4 m or 2.5 m x 3.5 m. When planned close planting is used, about 110 plants per mu, with row spacing of 2 m x 3 m. Dig holes measuring 1 m in length and width and 0.8 m in depth, bury 50 kg of green manure, 50 kg of farmyard manure, 500 g of lime, and 500 g of phosphate fertilizer in each hole, and backfill with topsoil so that it is about 20 cm above the ground.
(3) Field planting: When planting, avoid contact between the roots of the wampee seedlings and fertilizer. Keep the seedlings upright, with the root system spreading naturally in all directions, and cover the seedlings with fine soil up to the root collar at an appropriate depth.
IV. Management techniques for young trees
(I) Fertilizer and water management
(1) Fertilization: Young trees have not yet developed an extensive root system, are relatively shallowly distributed, and have weak absorption capacity, so fertilization should follow the principle of frequent and light applications, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, combined with phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, calcium fertilizer, magnesium fertilizer, foliar micronutrient fertilizer, and others. Fertilization can begin 1 month after planting and survival, and thereafter before each new flush sprouts and after the new flush turns green. In addition, organic fertilizer should be applied deeply every winter.
(2) Water management: Young trees grow vigorously, have shallow and few roots, and are easily affected by changes in soil moisture. Soil moisture management should be strengthened: irrigate during drought, drain during waterlogging, and keep the soil moist to facilitate normal plant growth.
(II) Soil management
(1) Loosening the soil: Young wampee orchards should have the soil loosened multiple times a year, generally in conjunction with weeding and intercropping. In summer and autumn, loosen the soil after rain to prevent soil compaction. Around the root zone, a loosening depth of 5-10 cm is best.
(2) Soil improvement: Generally starting from the second year after planting, dig ring-shaped trenches around the outside of the original planting holes, or dig one strip trench between rows (or between plants), 40-50 cm deep and 30 cm wide. Apply grass material, crop stalks, garbage, and an appropriate amount of lime, and others in layers, rotating the position each year. Within 2-3 years, deep plow and improve the soil throughout the orchard once.
(III) Shaping and pruning: After the seedlings are planted and survive, pinch or cut back the main trunk at a height of 40-50 cm to set the trunk and promote sprouting of buds below the cut. After the main branches mature, pinch or cut back at 15-20 cm to promote sprouting of buds below the cut, then select and retain 2-3 robust, well-distributed branches on each main branch to cultivate as secondary main branches, and use the same method to cultivate tertiary branches and quaternary branches.
(IV) Intercropping: In young wampee orchards, as long as it does not affect wampee growth, leguminous crops such as peanuts and soybeans or vegetables can be intercropped between rows to help retain soil moisture and prevent heat.
V. Management techniques for fruiting trees
(I) Fertilization of fruiting trees
(1) First fertilization: Carried out after fruit harvest, with a relatively large amount, and the specific amount depends on the age of the fruiting tree, fruit load, and soil conditions. For water-soluble fertilizer, use 10-fold diluted decomposed bran water, applying 15 kg per plant, poured into shallow trenches opened near the drip line around the canopy or directly onto the tree plate. If dry fertilizer is used, choose a ternary compound fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio of 15:15:15) at 200-300 g per plant or apply 200 g of urea.
(2) Second fertilization: After the autumn flush sprouts, the purpose is to promote the maturation of the autumn flush and promptly stimulate a second autumn flush, cultivating fruiting mother branches. Apply 200-300 g of ternary compound fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio of 15:15:15) per plant.
(3) Third fertilization: Around Great Cold, the purpose is to promote flower bud differentiation and benefit the development of flowers and fruiting branches. Apply 10 kg of poultry and livestock manure, 500 g of bran cake, 10 kg of mushroom residue, 15 kg of grass material, and 250 g of lime per plant, burying them in the hole in layers of fertilizer and soil, then backfill with topsoil.
(4) Fourth fertilization: After the full bloom stage, the purpose is to promptly replenish nutrients heavily consumed by flowering, promote flowers and strengthen fruit, and maintain emerald green leaf color. Apply 150-200 g of compound fertilizer per plant.
(5) Fifth fertilization: During the fruit expansion period, that is, after physiological fruit drop. The purpose is to promote fruit expansion, normal fruit development, and increased yield. Apply 150-200 g of compound fertilizer per plant.
(II) Pruning and cultivation of fruiting mother branches
(1) Winter pruning: Carried out together with winter orchard cleaning, mainly cutting off dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, shaded branches, and weak branches to ensure ventilation and light penetration in the tree, reduce pests and diseases and unnecessary nutrient consumption the following year, facilitate photosynthesis, promote autumn flush growth and flower bud differentiation, and lay the foundation for a high yield the following year.
(2) Pruning during the growing season: In conjunction with harvest or promptly after harvest, retract or cut back fruiting mother branches to stimulate autumn flush and cultivate robust fruiting mother branches.
(3) Cultivate robust fruiting mother branches. Apply fertilizer well before and after fruiting, and timely topdress and supplement fertilizer during the autumn flush growth and development period to promote timely and thick sprouting of fruiting mother branches. When the autumn flush sprouts and grows, strengthen inspection of pest occurrence, and immediately apply pesticides to kill pests when found, lowering pest population density and reducing pest occurrence.
(III) Flower thinning, fruit thinning, and fruit preservation
(1) Flower thinning: Wampee flower panicles are large, with many small flowers, reaching more than a thousand per panicle, and the flowering period is long. Especially in young trees, the flowering period of flowers on the same panicle can last as long as 15-20 days, with a fruit set rate of 3-6%, and about 10% at the higher end. Because the flowering period is long, it not only causes fruit drop but also leads to uneven fruit size and maturity within the same panicle. To reduce nutrient consumption by the tree and promote consistency in flowering and maturity within the same panicle, appropriate flower thinning or panicle cutting back can be used. That is, after the panicle begins to bloom and before full bloom, cut off about 1/3 of the total amount from the top of the panicle. If the panicle carries small leaves, remove the small leaves at the same time.
(2) Fruit thinning: Fruit thinning can increase fruit size and make fruit size and maturity more consistent. Fruit thinning can be carried out after physiological fruit drop, generally removing deformed fruit, diseased and pest-infested fruit, and small fruit, then, according to plant growth, nutritional level, and fruit load, thinning densely set fruit.
(3) Fruit preservation: From the fruit expansion period to the maturity period, attention should be paid to preventing pests, diseases, and fruit cracking. During fruit development, water and spray during drought, drain during waterlogging, and keep the environment and soil moist. Pay attention to inspecting and controlling pests and diseases that harm the fruit. Do not apply pesticides within one month before harvest. If pests or diseases occur, promptly remove diseased and pest-infested fruit to reduce the spread of pests and diseases.
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