Key Technical Points for Planting Birchleaf Pear Rootstock Seedlings in the Rainy Season

Birchleaf pear (Pyrus betulifolia) is an excellent rootstock for grafting pear cultivars, being drought-resistant, cold-resistant and tolerant of poor soil. It is generally planted in spring and autumn, but in remote mountainous areas short of water, the difficulty of transporting water and spring drought often affect the survival rate of planting. Fruit growers in our region have experience with planting birchleaf pear rootstock seedlings in the rainy season, which gives a high survival rate, rapid orchard establishment and low cost. The specific methods are as follows.

1 Plant after the continuous rainy season arrives, when the underground water content is close to saturation; planting in the rain or rushing to plant before the rain is best.

2 Dig up birchleaf pear sucker seedlings from nearby hillsides; generally a seedling diameter of 0.8-2.0 cm is suitable, the root system must be complete, and the soil ball should be kept as much as possible.

3 After planting, cover the tree base with green grass to retain moisture, and prune off some new shoots to reduce water transpiration.

4 For those planted early that produce new shoots the same year, bud-graft in mid-to-late August when the rootstock bark slips; for those planted late that do not produce new shoots, whip-graft the following spring.