Detailed Explanation of the Key Technical Points of Loquat Cultivation and Management
Loquat is a plant belonging to the Rosaceae family and is also a fruit native to our country. Loquat fruit has a very good taste, is rich in sugars and various vitamins, and has the effect of moistening the lungs and relieving coughs. In addition, loquat leaves also have medicinal effects such as clearing heat from the lungs and stomach, and are the raw material for many medicines. So how do we manage loquat when we grow it? Below, the editor brings you the cultivation and management techniques for loquat. Let's take a look together!
1. Temperature Management
Loquat was originally a subtropical fruit, so it has certain temperature requirements. When grown commercially, the temperature should be controlled at around 16°C. It is necessary to ensure that the planting area has no severe cold weather. Under normal cultivation, the flowering period of loquat is generally in the cold season such as late winter. If the temperature is low, it will seriously reduce the number of flowers and fruits of loquat, and minus 3°C will cause freezing damage to the fruit. When the temperature rises back above 10°C, the pollen will begin to germinate, and the optimal temperature should be around 18°C. If the temperature is too high and exceeds 30°C, then it will inhibit the growth of branches, leaves, and roots, and if high temperature is encountered 1-2 weeks before harvest, it will cause sunburn damage to the fruit and cause it to lose its commercial value.
2. Fertilizer and Water Management
We should control the amount of fertilizer and water according to the different ages of the trees. After the young trees are planted, the first topdressing should be carried out when the first leaf appears. The fertilizer should mainly be decomposed farmyard manure, applied about twice a month, following the principle of applying more frequently but in small amounts. For fruit-bearing trees, the number of topdressings each year should not be less than three times, carried out in periods such as January, March, and May respectively. In July, nitrogen fertilizer application should be stopped, the proportion of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be increased, and the growth of vigorous branches should be controlled. Then pay attention to watering. For fruit trees with strong growth, pay attention to drainage, reduce soil moisture, and prevent excessive water accumulation from causing root rot.
3. Training and Pruning
Training and pruning work is also very important for the growth of loquat trees. After the young trees are planted, layering work should be done well. At about 45 cm from the ground, retain about 3 main branches as the first layer, then control the spacing at about 55 cm and layer about three times. When young trees sprout new shoots in spring, carry out branch bending. Then, after the fruit-bearing trees are harvested, promptly prune old dead branches, pest- and disease-damaged branches, and crossing and overlapping branches, etc., to promote the production of new shoots and cultivate fruiting branch groups. Prevent excessive nutrient consumption, reduce the number of flowers and fruits, and enhance the growth capacity of loquat.
4. Flower and Fruit Management
During the young tree stage of loquat, management should be strengthened, and then flower promotion should be carried out reasonably in the following year. Also, flower thinning and fruit thinning should be done well to prevent the number of flowers and fruits from exceeding the bearing capacity of the loquat tree. When thinning flowers and fruits, control the intensity according to the tree's growth vigor. Trees with strong growth should be thinned less; on the contrary, weak trees should be thinned more. Then follow the principle of thinning the weak and keeping the strong. About 4 months after fruit thinning, bagging should be done well. Before bagging, do a good job of spraying pesticides to prevent and control pests and diseases. When bagging, try to increase the space inside the bag. First bag about 3 leaves to prevent the bag surface from contacting the fruit surface and causing damage to the fruit.
The above is a brief introduction to loquat cultivation and management techniques. The cultivation and management of loquat is very critical. Therefore, everyone should not neglect it during the planting process, to prevent some irreparable losses. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!