Methods and Key Technical Points for Controlling Peach Shoot Growth and Promoting Flower Formation

Many peach growers have called to ask how to stop peach shoot growth and form more flower buds. The main factor affecting flower bud differentiation is the conflict between reproductive growth and vegetative growth. When vegetative growth is too vigorous, it seriously affects reproductive growth, that is, flower bud differentiation. Therefore, during the flower bud differentiation period (late May to before leaf fall), attention must be paid to the balance between the two in order to ensure normal flower bud differentiation.

1. From late May to June, pinch off the shoot tips at the 10-12 leaf position on autumn shoots to promote flower bud differentiation and branching, or spray Shoot Control Ling (Kongshao Ling).

2. From late August to September, during the autumn shoot growth period, spray Shoot Control Ling once (add 40 jin of water per packet) to ease the intensity of vegetative growth; from late September to early October, spray Shoot Control Ling once more (add 20-30 jin of water per packet), with the aim of stopping shoot growth before mid-October. For trees still growing, spray Shoot Control Ling promptly.

3. From mid-to-late September, begin restricting fertilizer and water to control shoot growth.

4. If yellow leaves or leaf fall occur too early, spray agricultural nucleotide + 0.2% nitrogen fertilizer.

5. After shoot growth stops, in order to improve flower bud differentiation, spray 1-2 times of Flower Strengthening and Fruit Retention Anti-cracking Agent, or agricultural nucleotide + 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate.