How to cultivate and manage late-maturing peaches? Detailed explanation of the key technical points

I. Orchard site conditions Late-maturing peaches and winter peaches require environmental conditions similar to those of ordinary peaches. In Yunnan, at an altitude of 1800-2100 m, an average temperature of 12°C-15°C, an annual accumulated temperature of ≥10°C of 4000°C-4500°C, annual rainfall of 800-1000 mm, annual sunshine of about 2000 hours, good irrigation and drainage conditions, convenient transportation, gentle terrain, deep soil, sandy loam or light gravelly loam, loose and fertile, rich in organic matter, and a pH of 5-6.5, all such areas can be planted.

II. Variety selection From the trial plantings in various places so far, Hongxin Xiantao, Wanhongmi, Taowang Jiujiu, Huawang Lu, Zhonghua Dongtao No. 2 and others have performed relatively well and stably in most places in Yunnan, while Zhonghua Shoutao, Fuxing Shoutao and others have performed poorly. It is best to first introduce and test them, then select varieties that adapt to the local climate and environment and are both high-yielding, stable-yielding and of excellent quality for planting.

III. Orchard establishment requirements In accordance with the "four highs" requirements of a high starting point, high standards, high quality and high technology, build a standardized, large-scale, standard-compliant, commercialized and industrialized "five-ized" peach orchard, so as to produce large quantities of high-quality premium peaches to open up the market, meet market demand and win consumer acceptance.

IV. Careful planting and meticulous management When planting, the varieties must be pure and correct, the seedlings strong and the roots good, the planting holes large and the fertilizer sufficient, the depth appropriate, the density reasonable, and a solid foundation of "three parts planting" must be laid; after planting, the "seven parts management" of the six items of soil, fertilizer, water, pruning, plant protection and flowers and fruits must be carefully carried out in a timely manner. Among these, plant protection (pest and disease control) is the most critical, because most areas of Yunnan have a distinct dry and rainy season, and the rainy season from June to October is the period of fruit growth and development and the peak period of pest and disease occurrence. Damage to the fruit by peach scab, anthracnose, brown rot, peach fruit borer, peach fruit moth, pear fruit fly and others often turns the fruit into pest- or disease-damaged fruit, causing it to lose commercial and edible value. Therefore, these pests and diseases must be well controlled, and this is the key to success.

In fertilization, because peaches have a high potassium requirement and need a complete range of elements, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium must be well coordinated and trace elements supplemented when fertilizing. In the annual growth cycle, the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is roughly 1:0.5:1.5. If potassium is insufficient, the leaves are small and pale, the leaf margins scorch, yellow spots appear on the leaf blade, the leaves fall early, fruit drop is severe, and the fruit tip rots before the fruit ripens. When fertilizing, from February to May, nitrogen is dominant, followed by phosphorus and potassium, to promote neat flowering and leafing, shoot growth and young fruit growth; from June to July, phosphorus is dominant, followed by nitrogen and potassium, to promote seed development and flower bud differentiation; from August to October, potassium is dominant, followed by nitrogen and phosphorus, to promote fruit enlargement, sugar conversion, improved coloring and better quality. Also, during the growing season, use foliar topdressing to supplement trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, boron and zinc.

Late-maturing peaches and winter peaches must be bagged if they are to be brightly colored and attractive and suffer little pest and disease damage. Bagging is carried out within 50-60 days after petal fall, and the bags are removed 30 days before harvest to allow light exposure and coloring and sugar conversion. One day before bagging, spray once with 1000x mancozeb plus 3000x deltamethrin, or 1500x thiophanate-methyl plus 3000x kung fu, to prevent pests and diseases during the bagging period. For fruit bags, choose double-layer, dual-color bags with a yellow-white outer layer and a black inner layer. The fruit bags should be high-quality bags made of medium-thick, flexible, water-impermeable paper, not inferior bags that are thick, hard, brittle and water-permeable.