Seven key points that must be mastered in ornamental peach cultivation

The ornamental peach is a deciduous flowering small tree of the genus Prunus in the rose family. It likes light and fertilizer, is cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, and is not tolerant of waterlogged conditions. The flower buds always form in the leaf axils of the new shoots of the current year, with 1 to 2 flowers per node, short pedicels and double flowers. The flowering period is usually from late February to early April. It has been a new favorite of the Guangzhou Lunar New Year flower market in recent years. In terms of management, the "seven musts" should be followed:

(1) Timely pruning After the flowers fade, all vegetative branches should be cut back short in time, and crowded branches should be removed to ensure more flowers the following year.

(2) Timely fertilizing From bud break to flowering, the ornamental peach is at the stage of its life with the greatest fertilizer demand. If fertilizer runs short, not only will the vegetative branches grow weakly and the flower clusters be fewer, but flowering will also be delayed. After flowering, together with pruning, apply a top dressing of rotted cake fertilizer in time. After that, apply rotted cake fertilizer about once every 20 days, and do not apply nitrogen fertilizer alone. Before flowering, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, while in winter and after flowering, fertilizing is not advisable.

(3) Timely bud removal Promptly remove the vigorous water sprouts inside the canopy, the water sprouts on the upper side of scaffold branches, and the competing buds below the pruning cuts. This can reduce ineffective growth, save nutrients, and improve ventilation and light conditions.

(4) Timely pinching to promote shoots When new shoots grow to 40 cm, pinch them in time. This is beneficial to canopy formation and flower bud formation, making the ornamental peach attain a graceful tree form.

(5) Protect the leaves Since the flower buds all form in the leaf axils of the new shoots of the current year, attention must be paid to protecting the leaves to prevent premature leaf drop from affecting flower bud formation. March to May is the rainy season, so prevent the leaves at the base of the branches from rotting due to excessive rain, and also pay attention to drainage to prevent waterlogging. In June to August, when the weather is hot, water frequently or spray water on the leaf surface to prevent premature leaf drop caused by drought.

(6) Promote flower bud differentiation July to August is the flower bud differentiation period of the ornamental peach, so water should be moderately withheld to allow better flower bud differentiation. At this time, also stop applying nitrogen-containing fertilizer; otherwise, the new shoots will find it hard to stop growing and cannot form flower buds. If the new shoots have not yet stopped growing, pinch the tips of the new shoots by hand until they wilt, so as to artificially control growth. Alternatively, spray with chlormequat to inhibit new shoot growth and advance entry into flower bud differentiation.

(7) Timely prevention and control of pests and diseases The temperatures from April to October are most suitable for the reproduction and damage of the peach fruit borer and aphids. In particular, the tender buds at the tips of branches are most vulnerable to the peach fruit borer, which often causes the shoot tips to wither and scorch. The usual control method is to spray with a 1000-fold dilution of methamidophos or with 40% omethoate every 15 to 20 days.