Suitable Growing Regions and Key Cultivation Techniques for Pomelo Trees
Pomelo is also called Wendan, Xiangluan, Zhuluan, Neizi, and so on. It is a fruit with thick skin, large flesh, and a sweet-and-sour taste, with many varieties, and it is relatively common in areas south of the Yangtze River in China. So where are pomelo trees suitable for growing? What are the key cultivation techniques?
I. Where are pomelo trees suitable for growing?
1. Climatic conditions. The place of origin has an annual average temperature of 17.5°C, an extreme high temperature of 40.5°C, an extreme low temperature of -9.2°C, a frost-free period of 238 days, annual rainfall of 1725.3 mm, and annual sunshine of 1898.6 hours. Pomelo has a stronger tolerance for low temperatures than sweet orange, citrus, and Wenzhou mandarin.
2. Terrain and topography. Pomelo has no strict requirements for terrain. Plains, sand beaches, hills, low mountains, and mountainous land below 500 m in altitude with a slope not exceeding 25 degrees can all be planted.
3. Pomelo has no strict requirements for soil, and the soil pH value is preferably 5.5-6.5. Alluvial soil, red-yellow soil, purple sandy soil, and vegetable garden soil can all be planted as long as the soil layer is deep and drainage is good. Sandy loam soil is best.
II. What are the key cultivation techniques for pomelo trees?
1. Site selection and orchard establishment
Pomelo trees have relatively strong soil adaptability and no hard requirements for soil, so they can grow normally, but if you want to obtain high-quality and high-yield fruit, it is still best to establish the orchard on sandy soil that is fertile, deep and loose, and has strong permeability and drainage. When establishing the orchard, reasonably plan the orchard layout, determine the orchard area, reasonably distribute planting density, and set up roads, irrigation and drainage facilities, and a series of other preparations to facilitate later management. Try to establish the orchard in a place with convenient transportation, communications, and sufficient water sources, so as to facilitate later transport.
2. Seed selection and planting
After determining the orchard site, choosing an excellent variety is the key to high-yield planting. Choose seedlings that are disease-free and pest-free, have strong growth, and are robust. During transport, take care that the seedlings are not mechanically damaged, which would affect seedling quality and growth. After pomelo trees mature, the tree body is relatively large, so when planting, dig the planting hole large, with depth and width preferably about 80*100 cm. When planting, apply organic fertilizer together with soil in layers and compact it. After planting, water thoroughly with rooting water, then cover it with grass material to preserve water and moisture.
3. Young tree management
Management of young trees after planting is very important. Fertilization of young trees should mainly be frequent and light, applying quick-acting fertilizer at least twice a month. In addition, some vegetable crops can be planted between the fruit tree rows, which can not only loosen the soil but also be turned into the soil after maturity to be used as fertilizer. Properly prune excessive vegetative branches, and use methods such as bud rubbing and shoot control to improve the permeability of the orchard canopy and promote and strengthen the photosynthesis of the fruit trees. Then, according to the later growth of the fruit trees, carry out appropriate girdling on the tree body.
4. Fertilization management
Fertilization of pomelo trees is mainly based on farmyard manure. Pomelo needs a large amount of nutrients during its growth process, so during planting, it is essential to ensure sufficient nutrients for the growth of pomelo trees. When pomelo trees bloom and bear fruit, chemical fertilizers cannot be used, especially chlorine-containing fertilizers. Trees bearing fruit for the first time should be fertilized at least three times. The first time is after harvest, then the second time is at bud break in the spring of the second year, and the last time is during fruit enlargement. It is mainly based on farmyard manure, and later topdressing work depends on the growth of the fruit trees and soil fertility.