A Detailed Guide to the Planting Methods and Key Technical Points for Sichuan Pepper
Sowing time and method
Sowing is generally carried out before the Start of Spring (Lichun); the sowing method is usually bed sowing, and the seeding rate is generally about 20 kg per mu.
Seed treatment
Because there are many varieties of Sichuan pepper trees, we recommend selecting seed trees that are robust in growth, bear fruit early and have high yields, and are over 10 years old as mother trees for seed collection.
The harvested seeds need to be dried in the shade, but must not be exposed to the sun, to prevent high temperatures from damaging the inside of the seeds and causing them to lose their germination capacity. Use a winnowing machine for a second selection, keeping the plump seeds.
Nursery plot preparation
Sichuan pepper trees are drought-tolerant and sun-loving, so the nursery plot is best chosen on yellow loam or sandy loam with irrigation and drainage conditions. First plow the nursery plot, then apply 3000 kg of composted manure or 50 kg of ammonium phosphate fertilizer, then rake it level and make ridges or beds.
Nursery management
After sowing, pay attention to keeping the seedbed moist. When the Sichuan pepper seedlings emerge and grow to about 5 cm, thinning can be carried out, and a spacing of about 10 cm between seedlings is suitable. During the young seedling stage of Sichuan pepper trees, do not use a hoe to weed; instead, use manual or chemical weeding to avoid injuring the seedlings and disturbing the roots. In late spring and early summer, apply urea three times as a top dressing, once every half month, each time 5-7.5 kg per mu. When the seedlings grow to more than 60 cm, they can be taken out of the nursery for afforestation.
I never expected that growing Sichuan pepper trees would be such a troublesome business! Now that we understand the planting methods for Sichuan pepper trees, let us also take a look at how they should be harvested when they mature!
How much do Sichuan pepper saplings cost? Cultivation methods for Sichuan pepper saplings
When it comes to Sichuan pepper, everyone probably finds it familiar. Sichuan pepper is a very common seasoning in our daily lives, and especially in the Sichuan and Chongqing region, it plays a very important role in kitchen life. Therefore, many people want to cultivate Sichuan pepper to bring themselves economic benefits. However, many people are also troubled by not knowing the price of Sichuan pepper saplings and their cultivation methods. For this reason, this article will introduce the price of Sichuan pepper saplings and their cultivation methods, so that everyone can use it as a reference when needed.
Sichuan pepper sapling prices
Sichuan pepper saplings 0.3 cm-0.5 cm are generally 0.4 yuan per plant, and Sichuan pepper saplings 0.5 cm-0.8 cm are generally 0.9 yuan per plant.
Prices are sourced from the internet and are for reference only.
Cultivation methods for Sichuan pepper saplings
I. Site selection conditions and planting requirements
Sichuan pepper forest land should be selected on the sunny slope or semi-sunny slope of the lower part of a hillside. The best soil is loose, well-drained sandy loam, and it can also be planted sparsely around the four sides of a homestead. It is not suitable for planting on hilltops, in low-lying waterlogged areas, or in heavy clay. Before afforestation, the land must be carefully prepared. On hillsides, contour strip land preparation should be carried out, with a strip width of 1 m and a spacing of 2 m between strips, and a water-intercepting dike built every 5 m to prevent erosion.
For planting Sichuan pepper seedlings for afforestation, planting in winter or spring is better. Winter planting is around the "Start of Winter" (Lidong), and spring planting should be when the buds of the pepper seedlings begin to sprout. First fill the holes with moist soil, and water if conditions permit. Sichuan pepper requires that when transplanting, the holes be large and the bottom flat, with deep digging and shallow planting, heavy application of base fertilizer, and filling the holes with fertilized soil; never pound or tamp them. For block afforestation of Sichuan pepper, the row spacing is 2 m, the plant spacing is 1.5 m, and the holes are 0.5 m deep, long and wide, with 222 plants per mu. In addition, around nurseries, orchards, government offices, schools and parks, Sichuan pepper can be planted as a living hedge, which can prevent livestock damage, beautify the environment, and also bring income.
In the year of afforestation, weeding and loosening the soil should be carried out twice, and in dry weather, water promptly. Beans or green manure crops can also be interplanted, and the young forest can be tended in combination with the interplanted crops. After Sichuan pepper begins to bear fruit, every year the soil should be loosened, weeds removed, fertilizer applied, and pests and diseases prevented.
II. Shaping and pruning
Shaping is one of the main techniques for obtaining high yields and good quality Sichuan pepper. Reasonable shaping and pruning can make the framework firm, the layers distinct, the branches robust, the coordination reasonable, the light sufficient and the ventilation good, which can both increase yield and extend the life of the tree. The main characteristics of Sichuan pepper are that it loves light, sprouts strongly, and strong branches set fruit well. Because there are many branches, nutrients are too dispersed, the fruiting branches grow thin and weak, the fruiting capacity is correspondingly weakened, and the fruit clusters become small and light; too many branches make the canopy dense, the inner light poor, and cause small branches to die. Only through pruning can the contradiction between growth and development and nutritional conditions be resolved, achieving the goal of high yields year after year. 1. Pruning time: It can be done from after harvest to before the next spring sprouting, and the pepper-picking season is best. 2. Tree shape: Generally, three types are used: natural open-center form, clump form, and round-headed form. Cultivation method for the natural open-center form: after planting, cut at 30 cm and keep one side branch; shaping is completed in 4-5 years, and finally the central branch is removed to open the center. The cultivation method for the clump form is to cut the trunk after planting, allowing more branches to grow out from the root crown, or planting 2-3 plants per hole; after all survive, they grow naturally into the form. The round-headed form has an obvious trunk, with many main branches naturally distributed on the trunk, and a relatively dense tree shape with small branches.
3. Pruning methods: Sichuan pepper responds well to pruning. According to different growth stages, corresponding pruning methods should be used.
For young trees, grasp the principle of giving equal importance to shaping and fruiting. In the first year after planting, cut at the required height above the ground. In the second year before sprouting, remove the branches 30-50 cm from the base of the trunk, and evenly retain 5-7 main branches for heading back, while the remaining branches are not headed back; thin out crowded branches, competing branches, thin and weak branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and leave the strong branches unpruned.
For fruiting trees, thin out excess large branches. Branches within the canopy should mainly be thinned, removing diseased and pest-infested branches, crossing branches, overlapping branches, densely growing branches, and water sprouts, creating good conditions for ventilation and light penetration inside the canopy.
For old branches, thinning and pruning should be the main approach: remove large branches, remove weak branches, keep large buds, promptly renew and rejuvenate fruiting branch groups, remove old ones and keep young ones, thin out weak ones and keep strong ones, and select strong branches, strong buds and strong leaders to restore tree vigor.
Through the introduction above, we have roughly understood the price of Sichuan pepper saplings and their cultivation methods. From this we can see that the price of Sichuan pepper saplings is generally determined by the size of the plant. The larger the plant, the higher the price. When planting Sichuan pepper, special attention should be paid to the supply of water, temperature and light. In addition, because Sichuan pepper requires manual picking, everyone should also pay great attention to pruning the branches of the Sichuan pepper tree, including young branches and old branches, so as to ensure that Sichuan pepper is easy to pick.
An introduction to the planting methods for Sichuan pepper saplings
Everyone knows the Sichuan pepper tree, right? Sichuan pepper is an indispensable seasoning in our everyday cooking. Sichuan pepper belongs to the small tree category. The editor often saw her own grandmother planting this kind of Sichuan pepper tree. At first, Sichuan pepper is still a green string of small seeds. When the color turns slightly purple, grandfather and grandmother start taking scissors to cut the Sichuan pepper. At that time, a numbing smell could be detected. Today, the editor will introduce to everyone the planting methods for Sichuan pepper trees and Sichuan pepper saplings, so everyone please listen carefully.
Planting methods for Sichuan pepper saplings
Seed collection
The selection of mother trees for seed collection is the key to seed harvesting. Sichuan pepper seeds generally mature in late July. The suitable seed collection period is when the fruit peel shows varying degrees of red (depending on the variety), 15%-20% of the peel has split open, and the seeds are black and glossy. At this time the seeds are fully mature, and collection should be done promptly. The harvested fruit clusters should be spread indoors or in a cool place and turned frequently to allow ventilation. After the peel splits open, shake gently to release the seeds, remove impurities to obtain pure seeds, and then spread them thinly indoors to prevent mildew. Never expose them to the sun.
Seed treatment
1. Treatment of seeds for autumn sowing: The focus of seed treatment is de-oiling. Sichuan pepper seeds contain many empty grains, accounting for more than about 50%. Before treatment, water selection must first be carried out to remove the empty grains, and de-oiling treatment should be carried out on plump seeds. First place the seeds in a water vat or iron pot, scald the seeds with boiling water for 4-5 minutes, then quickly add cold water until the temperature is 30-40 degrees C. Second is rubbing off the oil: pour the seeds to be treated into 2% alkaline water or 1% detergent water and soak for 2-3 days, stirring and rubbing continuously with a broom and a stick during soaking to remove the oil on the surface. Third is cleaning: the water in which the seeds have been soaked contains a large amount of oil, so they should be rinsed clean with 800-fold diluted Xin Gaozhi Mo (New High Lipid Film), until the surface of the seeds looks black but not shiny. Then take out the seeds, pile them for 1-2 days, and they can be used for sowing. Before sowing, mix the seeds with plant ash; the moisture level of the ash should be such that it forms a ball when squeezed by hand and breaks apart when touched. Sow together with the ash.
2. Seeds for spring sowing must undergo sand storage treatment. The sand storage time is preferably about 50 days. Mix the seeds with 3 times their amount of moist sand (must not carry mud). The moisture level of the river sand should be such that it forms a ball when held in the hand and breaks apart when the hand is opened. Choose a warm place with good drainage, dig a ditch 1 m wide and 40-50 cm deep, place the seeds in it in a pile 10-15 cm thick, then cover with soil 10-15 cm, water to let it soak through, cover the top with moist soil, and sow early after the soil thaws.
Sowing
Sowing can be carried out in spring or autumn. Spring has relatively more rainfall, so places with moist soil or irrigation conditions can sow in spring, while arid areas are suitable for autumn sowing.
Management after sowing
1. Preventing sunscald: When the seedlings have just emerged, if there is high-temperature, sun-exposed weather, cover with plastic film. The tips of tender buds are often prone to scorching, or the seedlings may be bent under pressure. The plastic film laid flat on the ground should promptly be changed to a small arch shed, and the temperature and humidity changes inside the shed should be observed frequently, keeping the temperature inside the shed no higher than 30 degrees C and the humidity above 80%. When most of the seedlings have emerged, ventilate and harden the seedlings, gradually removing the plastic film.
2. Thinning and final spacing: When the seedlings grow to 4-5 cm, thin them, and when the seedlings are about 10 cm tall, set the final spacing. Keep one plant every 8-10 cm, leaving 20,000-30,000 plants per mu. When thinning and setting the final spacing, keep the strong and remove the weak, keep the tall and remove the short, keep the healthy and remove the diseased. Thinning and final spacing should be combined with loosening the soil and weeding.
3. Intertillage and weeding: When the seedlings reach a certain height, promptly pull out weeds in the field so they do not compete with the seedlings for fertilizer, water and light. Timely intertillage can loosen the soil and prevent soil moisture loss. Ensure there are no weeds in the field. Generally, at least 4 intertillages are carried out during the seedling growth period.
4. Fertilization and irrigation: After the seedlings emerge, they begin to grow rapidly in mid-to-late May, and enter the period of most vigorous growth in mid-to-late June, which is also the period when they need the most fertilizer and water. During this time, apply top dressing 1-2 times, mainly quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, to promote seedling growth. Then generally spray Sichuan pepper Zhuangdiling + Xin Gaozhi Mo to expand the nutrient transport ducts, improving the fruit-setting rate.
The above is the editor's introduction to the planting methods for Sichuan pepper saplings. When planting Sichuan pepper saplings, everyone must find a suitable place to plant them. Do not plant them where children can easily touch them, otherwise the Sichuan pepper saplings have needle-like parts that can easily prick people. In the later process of planting Sichuan pepper saplings, everyone must pay attention to managing them well, otherwise the saplings will not easily survive. The editor has introduced this very detailedly. Everyone should read it carefully. All right, the editor's introduction ends here.