A Detailed Guide to Clever Fertilization Methods and Key Planting Techniques for Japanese Apricot (Green Plum)
The Japanese apricot is a fruit with a unique flavor, tasting sour and crisp, making it irresistible to many people. There are many varieties of Japanese apricot; besides some edible varieties, there are also some that can be grown for ornamental purposes. After being salted, the Japanese apricot can also be used as medicine, having the effect of promoting saliva production and relieving cough. Japanese apricots are grown in many parts of China. Let's take a look below at how to cleverly fertilize Japanese apricots and what the key planting techniques are.
I. How to cleverly fertilize Japanese apricots?
Reasonably fertilize. The plum root system is shallow, so for trees that have not yet borne fruit, shallow intertillage can be combined with weeding in spring to promote root growth; in late autumn, combine with burying organic fertilizer and deep plow 12-15 cm to promote leaf drop and dormancy. For mature trees, plowing to improve the soil can be carried out every year after autumn, combined with increasing the application of organic matter fertilizer, carried out alternately between rows year by year. Fertilization of plum trees should also be reasonably carried out according to different tree ages and different growth stages. For fruit-bearing trees, focus on three key stages, namely pre-flowering fertilizer: mainly organic fertilizer, combined with quick-acting fertilizer, with the application amount accounting for 60% of the whole year, applied from “Start of Winter” to “Winter Solstice.” Spray No. 3 Flower-promoting King to promote strong flowers, normal spring shoot emergence, and reduce fruit drop. Post-fruit fertilizer: mainly organic fertilizer, combined with some quick-acting fertilizer, with the application amount accounting for 35% of the year, applied after fruit harvest. Combine with spraying plant electronic fertilizer to maximize fertilizer efficiency. To restore tree vigor, promote dark green leaves, enhance assimilation, plump branches, and promote flower bud differentiation. Fruit-swelling fertilizer: mainly potassium fertilizer, combined with some nitrogen fertilizer, with the application amount accounting for 5% of the whole year, applied during the young fruit stage. Combine with spraying fruit-swelling stalk spirit to coordinate nutrition, reduce fruit drop, promote fruit enlargement and plump spring shoot growth.
II. What are the key planting techniques for Japanese apricots?
1. Site selection and land preparation
The Japanese apricot's growth habit is that it prefers warmth and has strong cold resistance, so the planting site is generally chosen in a place with relatively abundant sunlight where the soil, water body, and air are all free of pollution, and at the same time the soil fertility should be relatively sufficient, drainage should be well managed, and it should be planted in relatively moist soil with good permeability. After selecting the site, deep plowing should be carried out, and at the same time planting holes should be dug well, and sufficient fertilizer should be scattered in the planting holes, covered with a layer of fine soil, and finally planting can be carried out.
2. Reasonable close planting
The Japanese apricot tree form is relatively large, so generally only about forty to fifty-five trees can be planted per mu, among which the planting density is about four meters between rows and three to four meters between plants, determined according to the fertility of the soil and the variety of the Japanese apricot tree. If you want to increase the early fruit yield, you can appropriately plant more densely. Use a density of four meters between rows and three meters between plants for field planting.
3. Watering methods
After field planting, that is, when there is a lot of rain in summer, the field is often in a state of high temperature and high humidity, so we must drain water in time to enhance the permeability of the soil. Secondly, when the fruit is developing in spring, we should water an appropriate amount, and at the same time prepare well for frost prevention.
4. Pruning and shaping
For young fruit trees, before the tree form has formed, we must continuously prune so that the Japanese apricot can grow better. Generally, some branches that are unfavorable to light are pruned, and at the same time relatively dried or messy branches should also be cut off, so as not to affect the beauty of the tree form. For mature Japanese apricot trees, generally dead branches, dense branches, diseased branches, insect-infested branches, weak branches, and non-fruiting branches are pruned off, which can improve light, and at the same time allow it to grow new branches and leaves, and to a certain extent can increase yield.
5. Pest and disease control
The main diseases of Japanese apricot include anthracnose, black spot, and gummosis, etc. These diseases are basically caused by high temperature and high humidity, or low temperature and high humidity, or even high temperature and low humidity. Generally, we can use carbendazim for control. The most common pests include aphids, fruit borers, longhorn beetles, and scale insects, etc. We can usually use dimethoate emulsion for careful prevention and poisoning.