How to Plant Camellia chekiangoleosa? Efficient Cultivation Techniques and Pest and Disease Control Methods
How to plant Camellia chekiangoleosa? Camellia chekiangoleosa has a protective effect on the ecological environment of certain regions in China, and it also has extremely strong ornamental value for gardens. Camellia chekiangoleosa has strong resistance to pests and diseases, low production and operating costs, and relatively extensive management. It is a good ecological and economic tree species, and compound management prevents soil erosion.
1 Biological Characteristics
Species classification of Camellia chekiangoleosa: Zhejiang Camellia chekiangoleosa, Guangning Camellia chekiangoleosa, Tengchong Camellia chekiangoleosa, Wantian Camellia chekiangoleosa, etc. Zhejiang Camellia chekiangoleosa is also known as Zhejiang red camellia. Evergreen small tree, bark grayish-white and smooth; leaves long elliptic, smooth and hairless on both sides, sparsely short-serrate along the margins; fruit base has persistent sepal-like structures, fruit stalk extremely short, pericarp 0.4~0.8 cm thick, each fruit has 7~10 seeds, fruit ripens in mid-September, mostly red, spherical or peach-shaped, generally fruit weight 26~160 g.
2 Seedling Raising Techniques
Seedling raising of Camellia chekiangoleosa is divided into: sowing seedling raising, cutting seedling raising, and grafting seedling raising. Grafting seedling raising is the main method.
2.1 Sowing seedling raising: Through observation of the growth period of Camellia chekiangoleosa, select mature fruits from trees over 10 years old with good tree shape, large grains, no pests or diseases, and high yield, and sow them directly for seedling raising.
2.2 Cutting seedling raising: Select disease-free and pest-free, robust spring shoots from superior trees or superior clones and use them as cuttings for seedlings.
2.3 Grafting seedling raising: Light-substrate bud seedling rootstock grafting seedling raising technique.
Seedling raising precautions:
① Variety selection: 30 clones (high yield, long flowering period, concentrated flowering period, white flowers, resistance to pests and diseases, etc.)
② Rootstock selection: Camellia chekiangoleosa-type own rootstock common oil tea
③ Tending and management: In the year of grafting, growth is slow or shoots do not sprout; appropriately apply additional fertilizer (compound fertilizer) in the second year, and it can also grow to more than 30 cm.
④ Seedling out-of-nursery standard: Same as common oil tea.
3 Cultivation Techniques
3.1 Superior variety selection
Superior clones and superior individual plants selected and bred by the Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry. Its main economic and technical indicators are: average fresh seed yield rate 22.0% (some superior clones can reach 33%); kernel oil content 65%, average 100 kg fresh fruit contains 3 kg oil; average oil yield per mu in full fruit period 15 kg.
3.2 Selection of afforestation site
Zhejiang Camellia chekiangoleosa prefers warm and humid conditions, and is suitable for growth in low mountain hills at an altitude of 500-1000 m, with an annual average temperature of 14°C-17°C, precipitation >=1000 mm, relative humidity 70%-80%, frost-free period 220-270 d. The soil is preferably acidic soil such as loose, fertile, moist, well-drained mountain yellow soil, yellow-brown soil, sandy soil, and red soil, with a soil layer thickness of more than 60 cm, pH 5-6.5, slope aspect sunny slope and semi-sunny slope, slope below 25°, able to withstand extreme high temperature of 40°C and low temperature of -10°C, evergreen in all seasons. It is best to combine it with tourism, farms, Green Full Jingchu, etc.
3.3 Site preparation
① Full reclamation
On flat land or gentle slopes of less than 15°, where intercropping crops are planted, adopt full reclamation or mechanical site preparation with a depth of more than 60 cm, remove stones, tree roots and other debris, and dig holes at fixed points around the mountain, with hole size: length, width and depth each 60 cm.
② Strip reclamation
Open horizontal strips around the mountain according to row spacing, higher outside and lower inside, strip width 2 m. On the strips, dig holes at fixed points around the mountain horizontally according to plant and row spacing, with specifications the same as full reclamation. Dig holes at fixed points according to spacing, with specifications the same as full reclamation.
③ Hole reclamation
Dig holes at fixed points around the mountain horizontally according to plant and row spacing, with specifications the same as full reclamation.
3.4 Afforestation density
It is mainly determined according to the biological characteristics of Camellia chekiangoleosa, site conditions, and afforestation purpose, etc. Generally, 1200-1650 plants/hm2 are planted (80-120 plants per mu). Plant and row spacing 2 m x 3 m or 2.5 m x 3 m.
3.5 Tending and management
① Soil management and soil and water conservation: After afforestation, in the first year, tending may be omitted to protect the root system. From the second year onward, tend 1-2 times each year, the first time in May-June, the second time in August-September. The main tasks are loosening soil, weeding, earthing up, and expanding holes, gradually connecting them into strips, and paying attention to soil and water conservation.
② Replanting and pruning: Shaping and pruning, mainly shaping, lightly pruning to control water sprouts, promote the growth of main and lateral branches, and form a low natural round-headed and open-center crown, laying a good foundation for high and stable yield.
③ Intercropping and fertilization: Plant green manure, medicinal herbs, oil crops and other crops, and replace tending with cultivating and fertilizing. Combine cultivating with fertilizing young forests to increase organic matter and improve the soil. Organic fertilizer should be the main type, combining quick-acting fertilizer with slow-acting fertilizer, and organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer. In winter, apply 10-20 kg of farmyard manure per plant. Before spring shoots sprout, apply additional nitrogen fertilizer. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is preferably 2:1:1.
4 Pest and Disease Control
The main diseases of Camellia chekiangoleosa are anthracnose and sooty mold, and the main pests are oil tea geometrid and tea shoot moth.
5 Fruit Harvesting
5.1 The fruit of Camellia chekiangoleosa is a capsule, with a woody exocarp, round spherical or oblate spherical, and the fruit differs greatly among varieties.
5.2 The fruit ripening time is mid-September. Immature fruits have low yield, low oil extraction rate, and poor quality after harvest, so early picking is strictly prohibited. The signs of fruit maturity are that the exocarp fuzz falls off, the color deepens, the luster becomes brighter, the exocarp changes from green-yellow to red or reddish-brown, the kernel becomes hard, and changes from white to yellow-brown with luster.
5.3 After the fruits are harvested, they should be sun-dried promptly for threshing, impurities removed completely, and after full drying, stored for oil pressing. Seeds used for seedling raising must not be exposed to strong sunlight, and should be stored in sand for later use.
The above are the key cultivation techniques for Camellia chekiangoleosa. Flower farmer friends interested in planting Camellia chekiangoleosa can come to Huinong Network to learn more!
Fund project: Propagation techniques and pest and disease control measures of Camellia chekiangoleosa
Camellia chekiangoleosa is one of the main oil tea populations cultivated in China, with characteristics such as high edible, medicinal, ornamental, and landscaping value. Below, let us take a look at the propagation techniques of Camellia chekiangoleosa.
I. Biological Characteristics of Camellia chekiangoleosa
Evergreen shrub or small tree, tree height can reach 7 m. Bark grayish-white and smooth; leaves long elliptic, smooth and hairless on both sides, sparsely short-serrate along the margins; flowers bloom from late winter to spring, red or pink, solitary terminal or axillary, petals 6-8, obcordate. Capsule spherical, hairless, pericarp woody, diameter 4-6 cm, single fruit weight 26-160 g.
II. Suitable Growing Conditions for Camellia chekiangoleosa
Camellia chekiangoleosa prefers a warm and humid environment. In Hubei Province, the suitable range is low mountain hills at an altitude of 500-1 000 m, with an annual average temperature of 14-17°C, precipitation >=1 000 mm, relative humidity 70%-80%, frost-free period 220-270 d. The soil is preferably acidic soil such as loose, fertile, moist, well-drained mountain yellow soil, yellow-brown soil, sandy soil, and red soil, with a soil layer thickness of more than 60 cm, pH 5-6.5, slope aspect sunny slope and semi-sunny slope, slope below 25°.
III. High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for Camellia chekiangoleosa
3.1 Variety selection
Priority is given to selecting superior clones and superior individual plants bred by the Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry as seed sources. Its main economic and technical indicators are: average fresh seed yield rate 22.0%; kernel oil content 65%, average 100 kg fresh fruit contains 3 kg oil; average oil yield in full fruit period 15 kg/hm2.
3.2 Seedling raising techniques for Camellia chekiangoleosa
Seedling raising of Camellia chekiangoleosa is divided into: sowing seedling raising, cutting seedling raising, and grafting seedling raising. In production, grafting seedling raising is the main method, mostly using light-substrate bud seedling rootstock grafting.
3.3 Afforestation techniques for Camellia chekiangoleosa
(1) Selection of afforestation site: The afforestation site should be selected in hilly areas at an altitude of 500-1 000 m, requiring sufficient sunlight, slope below 25°, deep soil, loose texture, and slightly acidic soil (pH 5-6.5). Steep mountain slopes, shady slopes, and low-lying waterlogged land must not be selected.
(2) Site preparation: The site preparation time is before October. After site preparation, it is best to sun-dry for one month before digging holes. There are mainly the following three site preparation methods. ① Full reclamation site preparation. For low mountains and gentle slopes with a slope of less than 10°, implement full reclamation site preparation. Deeply plow the forest land comprehensively by more than 20 cm, then dig holes at fixed points according to the planned row spacing. The planting hole specification is 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm. ② Strip reclamation site preparation. For forest land with a slope of more than 10°, use terrace site preparation. For forest land with a slope of 10-15°, the terrace surface width is 3-6 m, and holes are dug on the strips; for forest land with a slope of 15-20°, the terrace surface width is 1.5-2.0 m, and holes are then dug on the strips. The terrace surface width, distance between terraces, and distance between holes are determined according to terrain and planting density. The hole digging specification is the same as full reclamation. ③ Hole reclamation site preparation. For plots with less native vegetation, concentrated precipitation, and severe water erosion, wind erosion, and soil erosion, hole reclamation site preparation is adopted. Dig holes at fixed points along contour lines according to plant and row spacing, with specifications the same as full reclamation.
(3) Afforestation density: It is mainly determined according to the biological characteristics of Camellia chekiangoleosa, site conditions, and afforestation purpose, etc. Generally, 80-120 plants/667 m2 are planted.
(4) Base fertilizer: In order to improve soil fertility, promote seedling growth, and reach high yield as early as possible, according to local conditions, after digging holes, appropriately apply 3-5 kg of garbage fertilizer, rice straw, and farmyard manure, and add 0.25-0.30 kg of compound fertilizer per hole, then backfill topsoil, fill the hole into a steamed bun shape, and use it for afforestation.
(5) Seedling selection: The quality grade specifications of Camellia chekiangoleosa seedlings are shown in Table 1. It is required to select Grade I and Grade II qualified seedlings for afforestation, and it is recommended to use light-substrate bud seedling rootstock grafted seedlings for afforestation.
Table 1 Quality grade specification indicators of Camellia chekiangoleosa seedlings
(5) Seedling planting: The best planting time for cutting seedlings and sowing seedlings is December-January, and no later than mid-March. Container seedling afforestation can be carried out from late October to before the end of May of the following spring, with early March to late April being the best. When planting, ensure roots are spread, seedlings are upright, and soil is firm. Seedlings should not be planted too deep, and the graft union should be level with the ground. After planting, water thoroughly to settle the roots.
3.4 Tending and management of Camellia chekiangoleosa
(1) Tending and management of young forests: ① Replanting. Replant in the spring of the second year after afforestation, using strong seedlings of the same age to fill in gaps caused by disease and missing plants. ② Water, soil, and fertilizer management. After afforestation, pay attention to drainage during the rainy season, and irrigate promptly during summer and autumn droughts. In the first year after afforestation, to protect the root system, do not weed in summer; weed after September. From the second year onward, tend 1-2 times each year, the first time in May-June, the second time in August-September. The main tasks are loosening soil, weeding, earthing up, and expanding holes. During the young forest period, use gaps between trees to intercrop green manure, medicinal herbs, oil crops and other crops. In winter, apply 10-20 kg of farmyard manure per plant. Before spring shoots sprout, apply additional nitrogen fertilizer. The ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is preferably 2:1:1. ③ Tree shape cultivation. When the seedling height reaches 40-50 cm after planting, pinch the tip to set the trunk.
In the first year, select and retain 3-4 strong lateral branches with reasonable orientation at 30-40 cm as main branches; in the second year, retain 2-3 strong branches on each main branch as secondary main branches; in the 3rd-4th year, while continuing to cultivate the main and secondary main branches, cultivate the strong spring shoots on them into lateral branch groups, and make the proportion among the three reasonable and evenly distributed, forming a low natural round-headed and open-center crown. In the first 3 years, young trees need to have flower buds removed to maintain vegetative growth of the tree body and accelerate crown formation.
(2) Tending and management of mature forests: ① Reclamation. Winter reclamation is from November to January of the following year, and can be strip reclamation, hole reclamation, and trench reclamation, with a depth of 20-25 cm; summer reclamation is from May to July, generally with a depth of 10-15 cm, requiring shallow hoeing.
② Pruning. Camellia chekiangoleosa is not suitable for heavy-intensity pruning. Remove dead branches, diseased and pest branches, water sprouts, and high forked branches, and cultivate a natural open-center tree shape or natural round-headed tree shape.
③ Fertilization. In the full fruit period of mature Camellia chekiangoleosa forests, in order to meet the needs of vegetative growth of the tree body and a large amount of flowering and fruiting, fertilization should have a reasonable ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, generally N:P:K = 10:6:8. The total amount of quick-acting fertilizer applied per plant each year is 1.5-2.0 kg, and organic fertilizer 15-20 kg. Applying more organic fertilizer can not only effectively improve soil physical and chemical properties, increase soil fertility, increase the number of soil microorganisms, and prolong fertilizer efficiency, but also increase fruit oil content.
(3) Bee pollination: Camellia chekiangoleosa mainly relies on bees, ants, and other insects for pollination. First, protect beneficial pollinating insects; second, raise bees around the forest land, which can both increase economic income and meet the pollination needs of Camellia chekiangoleosa, improving the fruit-setting rate.
IV. Main Pests and Diseases and Control
The main diseases of Camellia chekiangoleosa are anthracnose and sooty mold, and the main pests are oil tea geometrid and tea shoot moth. The principle of "prevention is more important than treatment" should be implemented, with cultivation techniques as the foundation, and comprehensive control measures combining biological and chemical control. Protect and utilize natural enemies and carry out biological control.
V. Fruit Harvesting
The fruit ripening time of Camellia chekiangoleosa is mid-September. Immature fruits have low yield, low oil extraction rate, and poor quality after harvest, so early picking is strictly prohibited. When the exocarp fuzz of Camellia chekiangoleosa falls off, the color deepens, the luster becomes brighter, the exocarp changes from green-yellow to red or reddish-brown, and the kernel becomes hard, it is mature. When picking, use a small knife or small hook to remove the fruit. It is strictly prohibited to break branches or strike the trunk, damaging the tree body, so as not to affect new flower buds and the next year's yield. Do not pick fruit and randomly strike with poles. After the fruits are harvested, they should be dried promptly for threshing, impurities removed completely, and after full drying, stored for oil pressing. Seeds used for seedling raising must not be exposed to strong sunlight, and should be stored in sand for later use.
High-Yield Cultivation Techniques for Camellia chekiangoleosa
Camellia chekiangoleosa, also known as Yunnan camellia, belongs to the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae. It is one of the main oil tea populations cultivated in China, and is also a superior camellia variety with high edible, medicinal, ornamental, and landscaping value. Tengchong Camellia chekiangoleosa in Yunnan belongs to the superior populations of oil tea in China. According to measurements, the seed oil yield is 25%-30%, and the oil contains 90% unsaturated fatty acids. It has the effects of softening blood vessels, lowering blood lipids, nourishing and refreshing, and expelling parasites and strengthening the stomach; it can also be used as a pure natural high-quality cosmetic raw material. The oil cake left after the seeds are pressed for oil can be used as biological insecticidal pesticide and high-quality organic fertilizer. With the gradual improvement of people's living standards, the market demand for Camellia chekiangoleosa will continue to increase. Therefore, carrying out the protection of Tengchong Camellia chekiangoleosa variety resources, developing Camellia chekiangoleosa planting, and conducting deep processing of Camellia chekiangoleosa have very broad prospects. At present, the production of Tengchong Camellia chekiangoleosa mainly has problems such as mixed and degraded varieties, extensive management, random picking and excessive harvesting, lagging product processing research and development, and relatively low overall benefits. Technical departments and the broad masses of farmers need to carry out work in the selection and breeding of local superior varieties, the promotion of pollution-free high-yield planting techniques, the deep processing of Camellia chekiangoleosa products, and the expansion of application fields, so that Tengchong Camellia chekiangoleosa can exert stronger industrial advantages and make greater contributions to local economic development. The cultivation techniques of Camellia chekiangoleosa are now introduced as follows:1. Growing conditions
(1) Temperature. Tengchong Camellia chekiangoleosa grows in high-altitude mountainous areas of 1500-2500 m, with strong cold resistance. It can bloom and bear fruit normally even at a temperature of minus 10°C. When the temperature exceeds 35°C, growth and development will be affected and growth stops. Camellia chekiangoleosa is suitable for growing in mountainous and semi-mountainous areas with an annual average temperature of 8-16°C.
(2) Light. Adult Camellia chekiangoleosa prefers an environment with sufficient light, and can only bloom and bear fruit normally with more than 4 hours of light per day; however, it avoids exposure during the young stage and needs certain shading conditions.
(3) Soil. Camellia chekiangoleosa prefers loose, fertile, well-drained slightly acidic soil. It can grow within a pH range of 4.5-7.0, with pH 5.0-6.5 being most suitable. It grows poorly in alkaline soil and places with high groundwater levels.
2. Propagation techniques
(1) Seed propagation. In autumn, sow immediately after harvesting. If sowing cannot be done in time, store in wet sand and sow in February of the following year. Select flat terrain, convenient transportation, loose soil, convenient irrigation, and well-drained land as the nursery. Before sowing, disinfect the soil, carefully plow and harrow, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and prepare the seedbed; at the same time, disinfect and germinate the seeds, and sow by drilling. After the seedlings emerge, strengthen management promptly.
(2) Cutting propagation. Select branches from plants that grow robustly, have large and full fruits, and high yield as cuttings. Carry out cutting in mid-to-late June or mid-to-late August. The sand bed or seedling bed should be subjected to soil disinfection. Select current-year semi-lignified branches with complete leaves and full axillary buds for cuttings. The cutting length is 6-8 cm, with 1 leaf retained at the top. Treat with rooting powder and insert immediately after cutting; after insertion, press the bed soil firmly, shade, and water thoroughly; afterward, spray water on the leaves 2-3 times a day to keep the soil moist. In winter, the shade shed can be converted into a plastic greenhouse to prevent frost damage to the cuttings.
(3) Grafting propagation. Three methods can be used: approach grafting, branch grafting, and bud grafting. Approach grafting is easy to survive and grows fast, but propagation speed is slow and material utilization rate is low; branch grafting and bud grafting save materials, are convenient to operate, and have fast propagation speed. As long as the operation technique is proficient, temperature and humidity are suitable, and management is fine, the survival rate can reach more than 70%. White flower camellia or low-yield, poor-quality Camellia chekiangoleosa can be used as rootstock. Select Camellia chekiangoleosa varieties that grow robustly, have good tree shape, are over 15 years old, have large fruits, and high yield as scions, and pay attention to the construction and protection of superior variety scion nurseries.
3. Planting techniques for Camellia chekiangoleosa
(1) Site preparation. In places with large slopes, dig terrace planting strips along the horizontal direction of the mountain contour lines with a strip spacing of 3 m and a strip surface width of 1.5 m. Inside, dig bamboo-joint drainage ditches 20 cm wide and 20 cm deep, and deeply plow the soil 30 cm. Dig square planting holes with a hole spacing of 2 m and length, width, and depth each 60 cm, or dig cylindrical planting holes with a diameter of 60 cm. In places with smaller slopes or where intercropping with crops is carried out, planting holes can be dug directly according to the above requirements. Plant 110 Camellia chekiangoleosa plants per mu. After the forest matures, thinning dense areas to fill sparse areas or transplanting to other places can be carried out.
(2) Transplanting
① Transplanting time. Transplanting must be carried out in the rainy season, with the best time being 15 days before and after the Dragon Boat Festival, and no later than early August; lift seedlings and plant them in time to avoid the seedling roots being exposed to wind and sun; where conditions permit, use two-stage nutrient bag seedling raising and transplanting, and the survival rate can reach more than 90%.
② Planting method. Apply an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer or organic fertilizer as base fertilizer and backfill part of the topsoil. When planting, require upright placement, straightening, backfilling soil, gently lifting, firming, and watering to settle the roots. After planting, cover with plastic film, with a coverage area of preferably 1 sq m around the seedling, and press the edges firmly with soil.
4. Management of young forest land
(1) Thinning and replanting. In oil tea plantation land after afforestation, if missing plants are found, replant with nutrient bag seedlings of the same variety to ensure full and uniform stands.
(2) Cultivating and weeding. In the year of afforestation, carry out cultivating and weeding once; within 3 years, carry out cultivating and weeding twice each year, the first time in June, the second time in September. Chemical herbicides can also be used for weeding, but care must be taken not to spray the liquid on the tender leaves of Camellia chekiangoleosa.
(3) Additional fertilization. Apply additional fertilizer at least once each year, preferably in winter and spring. Organic fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer should be combined, and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers should be applied in combination; the amount of additional fertilizer depends on soil fertility and seedling size. There are 3 fertilization methods: broadcast application, ring trench application, and radial trench application.
Broadcast application. Evenly scatter the fertilizer around the root zone under the tree crown, and bury it into the soil together with cultivating and weeding.
Ring trench application. Outside the root zone covered by the tree crown, dig a circular or semi-circular additional fertilization trench 20 cm wide and 20 cm deep. Apply the fertilizer into the trench and then cover with soil.
Radial trench application. Dig radial fertilization trenches around the root zone covered by the tree crown, apply the fertilizer into the trenches, and then cover with soil.
(4) Formative pruning. Prune in late winter and early spring. In the second year after planting, retain the spring shoot sprouting from the terminal bud so that it quickly forms the trunk; when the trunk height is about 60 cm, select and retain 3-4 strong main branches around the trunk, and retain 2-3 secondary branches on each main branch, so that an umbrella-shaped crown is formed.
(5) Intercropping in forest land. Intercropping in forest land can achieve the effect of replacing tending with cultivation, achieve the purpose of using short-term crops to support long-term crops and promoting seedling growth. Intercropping crops should be selected that do not compete with oil tea for light, fertilizer, and water, such as peanuts, beans, and Yingcai. Tall-stemmed, vine, and water-consuming crops are not suitable for selection.
5. Management of mature forest land
(1) Forest clearing. First, remove scattered upper-layer tall trees in the oil tea forest; second, remove miscellaneous shrubs between oil tea strips, so that oil tea trees have ventilation and light. Forest clearing should be carried out once each year in winter.
(2) Pruning. Pruning is preferably carried out in late autumn and early winter, and can be combined with forest clearing. Cut off diseased and pest branches, parasitic trees, water sprouts, dry branches, and aged branches on the oil tea tree body. Pruning should be adapted to the tree, cutting dense areas and leaving sparse areas, removing weak branches and retaining strong ones, heavily pruning weak trees and lightly pruning strong trees.
(3) Loosening soil and fertilizing. Deeply plow the surface soil of the planting strips once each year (preferably without damaging the oil tea fibrous roots), dig out all miscellaneous and shrub root systems, crush and level the turned soil. The miscellaneous shrub root systems between terrace planting strips must not be dug out, so as to play a role in soil and water conservation. Loosen the soil in late spring and early summer each year. For fertilization methods, refer to the management of young forest land. Ring trench application and radial trench application are preferable, and broadcast application is not suitable.
(4) Pest and disease control. The diseases of Camellia chekiangoleosa mainly include anthracnose, powdery mildew, soft rot, and sooty mold; the pests mainly include scale insects, red spiders, stem-boring moths, tea shoot moths, tea caterpillars, scarab beetles, and sawflies. The principle of “prevention first, comprehensive control” should be implemented. Based on forest health cultivation techniques, biological control methods should be used as much as possible to control the occurrence and spread of pests and diseases. When pesticide control is needed, pollution-free pesticides should be used.
(5) Bee pollination. Camellia chekiangoleosa mainly relies on bees, ants, and other insects for pollination. First, protect beneficial pollinating insects; second, raise bees around the forest land, which can both increase economic income and meet the pollination needs of oil tea, improving the fruit-setting rate.
6. Fruit harvesting
The fruit of Tengchong Camellia chekiangoleosa is a capsule, with a woody exocarp, round spherical or oblate spherical. The fruit differs greatly among varieties, the seed shell is horny and dark brown, the seeds are spherical, hemispherical, or polygonal, the embryo is small, and the endosperm contains rich oil. The fruit ripening time of Camellia chekiangoleosa is from mid-November to early December. Immature fruits have low oil extraction rate and poor quality after harvest, so early picking is strictly prohibited; the signs of fruit maturity are that the exocarp fuzz falls off, the color deepens, and the luster becomes brighter; the seed shell changes from yellow to brown or deep black. The kernel becomes hard, changes from white to yellow-brown, and has luster; the fruit ripening period of Camellia chekiangoleosa is exactly the bud stage of new flower buds and leaf buds. When harvesting, tools with a small knife or small hook should be used, and breaking branches to pick fruit is strictly prohibited. After the fruits are harvested, they should be sun-dried promptly for threshing, impurities removed completely, and after full drying, stored for oil pressing.