A Detailed Guide to the Planting Methods and Techniques of the Sugar Apple Tree
The sugar apple is a tropical fruit. Its flesh is milky white and its taste is delicately sweet, and its shape has many soft wart-like protrusions. Both its taste and appearance resemble the lychee, so it is also called the custard apple. In recent years it has become quite popular on the market, and at present the sugar apple tree is cultivated in many regions in China. Let's take a look below at the planting methods for the sugar apple tree.
1. Planting time
The sugar apple tree is generally planted starting around March in spring. At this time the temperature is in a rising phase, which benefits the plant's growth. If it is a low-temperature region, then methods such as plastic film mulching or a greenhouse should be adopted to raise the temperature. Its flowering period is in summer, from May to June, and its fruiting period is from June to November.
2. Propagation methods
There are two methods for planting sugar apple: growing seedlings from seed and grafting seedlings. For growing seedlings from seed, select healthy, disease-free stock, and after a series of treatments, sow it in suitable soil. When planting, the seeds should not be buried too deep, and watering to keep the soil moist will make the seeds germinate. Grafting seedlings generally uses the branch grafting method in spring and the bud grafting method in summer, to cultivate superior saplings.
3. Orchard management
During the seedling stage of the plant, it is generally watered once every 3-5 days. In dry conditions it should be watered once a day; conversely, in cloudy and rainy weather the watering interval should be extended, and if the rainfall is too heavy, drainage should be carried out promptly. When the sapling grows to have 6-8 leaves, it can be watered with some thin manure water or low-concentration urea solution, and as the plant grows, the concentration of the fertilizer water is gradually increased. In the later stage of seedling growth, potassium fertilizer or compound fertilizer should be applied to cultivate strong seedlings and speed up their growth. In addition, during management, attention should be paid to pest and disease control. The sugar apple tree has few insect pests; the main disease is root rot, so control measures should be well implemented.
4. Pruning
When the plant has grown to a certain extent, it should be pruned in a timely manner. This can not only make its growth thick and strong, but also increase its ornamental appeal and make the fruit plumper. When pruning, the branches and trunk are generally trimmed, keeping 2-3 robust-growing branches as the main branches, and on the main branches likewise keeping 2-3 side branches. Repeated pruning in this way promotes branching. When planting in the south, the height of the plant should be controlled to avoid damage from typhoon weather and unnecessary losses, and during the rainy period, soil should be banked up in time to prevent water accumulation at the roots.
The above are the planting methods for the sugar apple tree. We hope this helps you. To learn more about planting knowledge, please stay tuned to us.