Can bayberry trees be grown in the north? Detailed explanation of planting methods and pest and disease control
Bayberry, also known as sheng sheng mei, bai di mei, and shu mei, is a small tree or shrub plant of the genus Myrica in the family Myricaceae, with high medicinal and edible value. So can bayberry trees be planted in the north? How to plant them? How to control pests and diseases? What pesticide to spray?
Can bayberry trees be planted in the north?
Bayberry is not suitable for planting in the north. This is because the basic moisture conditions and temperature in the north cannot meet its needs, and even if it were planted, it could not grow normally. Bayberry prefers a warm, humid, cloudy and misty climate. It is not tolerant of strong light or cold. It is best planted on north- or east-facing mountain slopes, in deep, loose, fertile, well-drained acidic soil.
How to plant bayberry?
1. Planting time. It is divided into spring planting and autumn planting. Spring planting is from February to early April, and autumn planting is from September to November. Generally, spring planting is preferable. Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, and Fujian can also plant from October to late March of the following year.
2. Planting density. A plant spacing and row spacing of 4m×4m or 4m×5m is suitable, with 33 to 42 plants per mu. The ratio of female to male plants is preferably 100:1. If wild bayberry exists locally, no male plants need to be allocated.
3. Applying base fertilizer. The planting hole is 80×80×60cm. Apply about 50kg of compost or 25-30kg of barnyard manure or 3-4kg of cake fertilizer per hole, plus 1kg of superphosphate, and cover it with 15-20cm of fertile topsoil.
4. Planting. When planting, place the seedling in the center of the hole, spread out the root system, straighten the seedling, then add fine soil and firm it with your feet or a hoe or other tool. Water thoroughly to settle the roots, then cover the top with subsoil to 20-30cm above the ground, and it is best to cover the graft union below the soil. After the seedling is planted, during the high-temperature season from July to August, loosen the soil, water, and cover the tree disk in a timely manner to reduce water evaporation.
How to control pests and diseases of bayberry trees? What pesticide to spray?
1. The main disease of bayberry is brown spot disease, also known as anthracnose. It is an important disease harming bayberry leaves. Severe outbreaks cause a large amount of leaf drop, leading to insufficient tree nutrition and ultimately a decline in fruit quality. The pathogen overwinters in diseased leaves as ascocarps, and disease occurs from late March to early April of the following year. It is more severe in plots with a shaded canopy, insufficient sunlight, poor soil, and a lack of potassium fertilizer and organic fertilizer.
Control methods:
(1) Clearing the orchard. In autumn and winter, in conjunction with pruning, collect and burn or deeply bury diseased leaves and diseased and pest-infested branches.
(2) Strengthen cultivation management: In the management during the growing season, reasonably strengthen soil, fertilizer, and water management, and at the same time improve the tree's ventilation and light conditions through pruning. (3) Spraying for control: At the early stage of disease, that is, after the flowering period ends, spray 1500 grams per mu of 1 degree Baume lime sulfur aqueous solution for control.
2. The main pest of bayberry is whitefly, which harms young shoot leaves, with more severe occurrence in June and July.
Control methods:
(1) Protect and utilize natural enemies such as ladybugs and small wasps, and implement pest control with insects.
(2) During winter and spring pruning, cut off dead branches and branches with high pest density, and burn them in a centralized manner to reduce pest sources.
(3) Spraying for control: In July when pest occurrence is severe, spray 4.5% cypermethrin emulsifiable concentrate per mu for control, which can achieve a good effect.