How to plant apple trees? Master the cultivation techniques for better growth
How to plant apple trees well? Please give guidance. The following methods can be referenced for apple tree planting: 1. Seedling cultivation techniques; new orchards should all adopt new rootstocks and new varieties. It is recommended to use the wild sweet tea rootstock unique to the Yimeng Mountains for apple seedlings, locally known as (sweet tea has a high degree of wildness, strong soil adaptability, resistance to disease, drought and waterlogging, adaptability to a wide range of temperature conditions, and long lifespan). To improve the quality of new orchards, strictly prepare the land, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and before planting dig planting holes according to the required density, with a specification of 0.6m x 0.6m and a depth of 0.6m. Keep subsoil and topsoil separate. Apply base fertilizer per mu (organic fertilizer) 1500kg-2000kg. According to local soil conditions, more organic fertilizer containing fine sandy soil can be applied, (a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer 0.1kg per tree, potassium fertilizer 0.2km, compound fertilizer 0.2kg can be added) and mixed with topsoil and backfilled to 15cm from ground level, then trampled firm. Make full use of land resources, with a plant-row spacing of 2m x 2m. Planting trenches of 0.6m x 0.6m can also be dug. Irrigate the holes 3-4 days before planting. Before planting, soak in a solution prepared with 700 times thiophanate-methyl or 500 times carbendazim for a full day and night, so that the seedlings fully absorb water and are disinfected. Dip the root system of the soaked seedlings in mud mixed with rooting powder, then plant. After planting, water promptly, cover with soil and plastic film to retain moisture, and drain promptly when waterlogged to prevent the seedlings from turning yellow and loss of manure water.
How to plant apple trees well? Please give guidance
The following methods can be referenced for apple tree planting:
1. Seedling cultivation techniques;
New orchards should all adopt new rootstocks and new varieties. It is recommended to use the wild sweet tea rootstock unique to the Yimeng Mountains for apple seedlings, locally known as (sweet tea has a high degree of wildness, strong soil adaptability, resistance to disease, drought and waterlogging, adaptability to a wide range of temperature conditions, and long lifespan). To improve the quality of new orchards, strictly prepare the land, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and before planting dig planting holes according to the required density, with a specification of 0.6m x 0.6m and a depth of 0.6m. Keep subsoil and topsoil separate. Apply base fertilizer per mu (organic fertilizer) 1500kg-2000kg. According to local soil conditions, more organic fertilizer containing fine sandy soil can be applied, (a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer 0.1kg per tree, potassium fertilizer 0.2km, compound fertilizer 0.2kg can be added) and mixed with topsoil and backfilled to 15cm from ground level, then trampled firm. Make full use of land resources, with a plant-row spacing of 2m x 2m. Planting trenches of 0.6m x 0.6m can also be dug. Irrigate the holes 3-4 days before planting. Before planting, soak in a solution prepared with 700 times thiophanate-methyl or 500 times carbendazim for a full day and night, so that the seedlings fully absorb water and are disinfected. Dip the root system of the soaked seedlings in mud mixed with rooting powder, then plant. After planting, water promptly, cover with soil and plastic film to retain moisture, and drain promptly when waterlogged to prevent the seedlings from turning yellow and loss of manure water.
2. Seedling shaping and pruning
The spindle shape is mainly advocated. The spindle shape bears fruit relatively early and is a tree form currently advocated. Spindle shape: tree height 2.5-3. m, crown width 1.8 m, trunk height 70 cm, with 10-15 main branches evenly borne on the central leader, not divided into layers, main branch spacing 15-20 cm, evenly distributed around, and the opening angle of the main branches reaching 60-90 degrees. This tree form has a small crown and is easy to manage, flowers in the same year, bears fruit in the second year, and production can increase substantially in the third to fourth year. Seedling pruning focuses mainly on shaping, generally carried out in early spring. Skirt branches below 70cm on the trunk are all removed. Above 90cm, keep one branch every 20cm, choose a good direction, and do not prune any that grow to 80cm in length; pull them all flat and notch the buds. Cut back at 50-30cm to promote new branches, and handle them again the following year. The central leader is not cut back, but a ring cut is made every 20cm to promote uniform growth of branches. In May-June, promptly twist shoots and pinch out growing tips for control. For vigorous trees, make ring cuts on the trunk to promote flower bud differentiation. If branches are too vigorous, apply paclobutrazol treatment to control branch growth and promote more and fuller flower buds.
3. Fruit tree pruning
1. Spring pruning: carried out after bud break until around the flowering period, using measures such as bud removal, branch thinning, renewal pruning, bud notching, and ring barking to complete pruning tasks. Young orchards also include shaping and pruning tasks such as branch bending.
2. Summer pruning: adopt techniques such as opening the angle, pinching out growing tips, twisting shoots, ring barking, thinning and cutting back, and ring cutting to moderate tree vigor, improve light, and expand the crown.
3. Autumn pruning: through measures such as branch bending, thinning upright branches, water shoots, densely growing branches and overly dense peripheral new shoots, improve light conditions, promote flower bud differentiation, and improve the cold resistance of the tree.
4. Dormant period pruning
This is pruning carried out from after leaf fall in early winter to before bud break in spring. The main task is to remove useless branches such as diseased and insect-damaged branches, densely growing branches, and water shoots. Methods include cutting back the heads of scaffold branches, renewing overly long and overly large fruiting branch groups, auxiliary nurturing branches, and weakened scaffold branch heads. Its role is to adjust the angles and extension directions of scaffold branches, auxiliary nurturing branches and fruiting branch groups, control the ratio of flower buds to leaf buds, and balance tree vigor, so as to achieve the goal of abundant and high yield.
4. Pest and disease control
In early spring before the leaves open, use 0.5o lime sulfur mixture to spray young seedlings once, mainly for sterilization of crops and control of overwintering pests and diseases. According to the season, the following pests and diseases can be controlled:
1. (Apple early defoliation disease:) This is a general term for several leaf diseases of apple. Among them, the ones causing severe defoliation are brown spot disease and alternaria leaf spot disease (caused by highly virulent strains of the ring spot pathogen). Brown spot disease mainly harms mature leaves, while alternaria leaf spot disease mainly infects tender leaves, with two peaks occurring during the vigorous growth periods of spring shoots and autumn shoots. The pathogens both overwinter on diseased leaves, and afterward spread by rain splash. Control methods: do a good job of orchard cleaning during the dormant period, sweep up fallen leaves and burn them. Spray chemicals during the growing period to protect leaves. For brown spot disease, use 50% carbendazim or 50% thiophanate-methyl 800-1000 times solution for control, or use 1:(2-3):240 Bordeaux mixture for control. For ring spot disease, use carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl chemicals for control,
2. Red spider mite pest and disease; (If the mite population density is high before wheat harvest, switch to spraying 20% fenpropathrin emulsifiable concentrate 3000 times solution, or 20% clofentezine or 10% kesheng manjing 2000-3000 times solution.)
3. Apple small leafroller; (Young larvae overwinter in cocoons in bark and cracks of pruning and saw cuts. The following spring they spin silk to tie leaves or flowers, harming leaves and gnawing fruit skin. Control methods: scrape off old bark and burn it during the dormant period. Near the period when larvae emerge from overwintering, use 50% trichlorfon 200-250 times solution to seal pruning and saw cuts and reduce the source of insects. During the adult occurrence period, hang sugar-acid jars in the apple orchard to trap and kill them. The ratio of sugar-acid solution is 1 part sugar, 3 parts vinegar and 10 parts water. During the occurrence period of the first-generation larvae, spray 50% dichlorvos 1000 times solution, or spray various pyrethroid pesticides 2000-4000 times solution. Note: general pests and diseases grow on the underside of leaves, so when spraying pesticides, spraying the underside of leaves should be the main focus
5. Recommended high-quality apple seedlings
Choosing a high-quality apple seedling rootstock is very important. Identification method: apple root systems grafted onto sweet tea rootstock are sandy yellow and vigorous, while root systems of other apple rootstocks are red-black. They carry hereditary traits, have poor disease resistance, and a short lifespan. Apple seedling varieties are divided into early-maturing, mid-maturing and late-maturing. Early-maturing varieties: Gala; Fuji No. 1; ripening in mid-May of the lunar calendar. Mid-maturing variety: American No. 8; ripening in early August of the lunar calendar. Late-maturing variety: spur Fuji; ripening from early to mid-September of the lunar calendar. The above varieties are divided into two types: dwarf and long-branch. Dense planting, high yield, excellent fruit shape and color, high sweetness, strong seasonality. With standard management, flower buds can be cultivated in the same year, fruit can be borne in the second year, and production can increase greatly in the third year.
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