A Detailed Explanation of the Planting Methods and Key Technical Points for the Sweet Pingpong Fruit
The sweet pingpong fruit, also known as the Chinese sterculia (Sterculia monosperma), has seeds that are edible, and once cooked, they taste similar to chestnuts. Native to Asia, the sweet pingpong fruit is used in various dishes in Guangdong and other regions; it is sweet and delicious, and is believed to have effects such as warming the stomach, expelling parasites and treating stomach pain. It is also a fruit tree with high ornamental value, so how should the sweet pingpong fruit be planted? Below, the editor brings you the planting methods for the sweet pingpong fruit. Let's take a look!
1. Sowing and Raising Seedlings
The sweet pingpong fruit was originally a wild tree species with fairly strong adaptability and low soil requirements, so when planting it, we only need to choose soft, deep soil with sufficient fertility. When the fruit of the sweet pingpong fruit matures, it splits open on its own, and at this time we should take out the seeds from the fruit. After the seeds are removed, they must not be exposed to the sun, to prevent water in the seeds from evaporating and affecting seed germination. The humidity of the seedling bed should not be too high; it is enough that the soil holds together in a ball when squeezed by hand without dripping water. Before sowing, the seeds and the seedling bed also need to be disinfected. After sowing, the main tasks are shading and moisture retention, and seedlings will emerge after about a week. Then, when the seedlings grow to about 30 cm, they can be transplanted and planted out in early spring.
2. Transplanting and Planting Out
As just mentioned, the time for transplanting and planting out the sweet pingpong fruit should be chosen in spring, and care should be taken during transplanting to avoid injuring the seedlings. This is especially true for the roots; try to avoid breaking them, otherwise it will have a certain impact on the growth of the sweet pingpong fruit. Before planting out, first plan the planting density and dig the planting holes, then carry out land preparation, carefully leveling and harrowing the soil fine, and apply sufficient base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should be mainly fully decomposed farmyard manure, and a small amount of chemical fertilizer can be added to increase soil fertility. This promotes the growth of the seedlings after planting out, enhances nutrient absorption and increases yield.
3. Field Management
The sweet pingpong fruit likes to grow in humid environments and has very poor drought resistance, so during its growth, especially during the flowering and fruiting period, it should be watered frequently to keep the soil moist. In summer and other hot, dry seasons, it is best to irrigate the entire tree to promote flowering and fruiting and increase the fruiting rate. Because the sweet pingpong fruit has strong branching ability, we also need to carry out proper shaping and pruning, cutting off the upper parts of the branches and trunks to promote the sprouting and growth of side branches, shaping the tree into an oval form to facilitate later management and harvesting. After harvesting, the overly long, overly dense, old, weak and pest- or disease-affected branches should also be pruned away to improve the permeability of the canopy.
4. Pest and Disease Control
Pest and disease control for the sweet pingpong fruit is very important, and common pests and diseases include anthracnose, psyllids and so on. Pests and diseases can harm all organs and parts of the sweet pingpong fruit tree, causing stunted growth and poor nutrient absorption, which is unfavorable for flowering and fruiting. Therefore, we should strengthen field management, do a good job of environmental sanitation, and collect fallen leaves and fruit to be cleared away from the orchard in a centralized manner to reduce sources of infection. Then regularly disinfect the orchard to eliminate pathogens and insect eggs, prepare pest and disease control agents to prevent sudden outbreaks of pests and diseases, and inspect the orchard regularly so that pests and diseases are discovered and treated early.
The above is a brief introduction to the planting methods for the sweet pingpong fruit. When planting the sweet pingpong fruit, there are still many points to note. For example, water and fertilizer management, intertillage and weeding and so on are actually basic management tasks that we also need to do well. Only by doing these management tasks well can we ensure the normal growth of the sweet pingpong fruit and increase the flowering and fruiting rate. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting us.