Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Flower Forcing and Fruit Retention in Wax Apple
Wax apple is a high-end fruit that has come into people's view in recent years. Wax apple is rich in nutrients. Although the price is relatively high, its market demand is still relatively high. Now the planting area of wax apple is gradually expanding, but many people find when planting that the flowering rate of wax apple is extremely low, resulting in insufficient fruit set, which seriously affects planting benefits. So how should wax apple be forced to flower and retain fruit? Let's take a look together below!
1. Reasonable shoot control
Shoot control is one of the main measures for flower forcing and fruit retention in wax apple. It controls the growth of shoots and prevents excessive shoot growth, which would make the fruit tree too closed, affect photosynthesis, and reduce the flowering rate. During the growth process of wax apple, the growth situation should be observed at all times, and growth regulators can be sprayed appropriately to inhibit shoot growth and prevent excessive branching. This is because such branches not only fail to bloom and bear fruit, but also consume excessive nutrients.
2. Tree pruning
Spraying chemicals can only slightly inhibit branch growth. After spraying, corresponding pruning measures should be made according to the observed growth situation of the fruit tree to improve the tree's ventilation and light penetration. For some fruit trees with weaker growth, appropriately thin out overly long and dense branches, and only cut off part of the non-fruiting branches and root suckers. For branches with medium growth, in addition to cutting off vigorously growing branches, also thin out terminal branches. At the time of the heaviest pruning, the main branches should be cut back, reducing about 70% of branches and leaves.
3. Flower and fruit thinning
The number of flowers and fruits on wax apple should not be too large. Retaining too many will not only fail to increase yield, but may also lead to flower and fruit drop, thus being counterproductive. We should promptly thin out slanted, lateral, and diseased or damaged flower branches. Each fruiting branch should have no more than 1 inflorescence, and the flowers on the inflorescence should not exceed 10. Then, when the young fruit grows to the size of a thumb, remove the pistils of faded flowers, and remove small fruits, rotten fruits, and diseased fruits. The number of fruits on each fruiting branch should not exceed 6.
4. Bagging to protect fruit
After fruit thinning, the fruits should be disinfected, and chemicals such as thiophanate-methyl wettable powder can be used. When spraying the chemical, pay attention to comprehensive and even application, and every young fruit should be sprayed thoroughly. After spraying, wait for the chemical to dry, then choose suitable bags and complete bagging. Also, after flower drop, spray a fruit retention agent or foliar fertilizer once every week to improve the fruit's resistance and fruit-setting rate, and prevent natural fruit drop.
5. Timely harvest
After bagging the fruits, with normal management and no unexpected situations, they will gradually mature in 1-2 months. If they are to be stored and transported after harvest, they should be harvested when the fruits are about 90% mature. If harvested too late, they are prone to rot during storage and transport. When harvesting, pay attention to the force used. Do not harvest fruits roughly. Use scissors to cut off the fruit together with the fruit bag at the base of the fruit to prevent damaging the fruit and reducing its commercial value.
The above is a brief introduction to flower forcing and fruit retention techniques for wax apple. Wax apple is a very delicious fruit. Although it may be a bit expensive, its popularity in the market is still quite high. The most important thing in planting wax apple is to increase its yield, so naturally the work of flower forcing and fruit retention must be done well to continuously improve one's own economic benefits from planting. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.