Apple Tree Planting Techniques and Management Methods
An article about apple tree planting techniques, management methods, and key annual management techniques, with the following specific content:
Planting Conditions
1. Temperature
Apples prefer a cold and dry climate with abundant sunlight, with an average temperature of 12 to 18 degrees Celsius during the growing period from April to October. If the temperature in summer is too high, with an average temperature above 26 degrees Celsius, it will lead to poor bud differentiation, rapid fruit development, and poor storage. Therefore, it is not suitable for planting in the south.
3. Light
Apples are a light-loving species. Sufficient light is beneficial for normal growth and fruiting, as well as for improving fruit quality. Different varieties have different light requirements. An annual sunshine duration of over 2000 hours can basically meet the growth and development needs of apples.
4. Soil
In terms of soil, apples are suitable for deep soil layers, good drainage, and sandy loam rich in organic matter, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Poor soil aeration will hinder the growth of apple roots, and when the soil pH is above 7.8 (alkaline soil), it is prone to nutrient deficiencies and chlorosis.
Apple Propagation Methods
There are three methods of apple propagation:播种 (broadcasting), cuttage, and grafting. The main purpose of apple cultivation is for fruiting, and播种繁殖 (broadcasting) has poor adaptability and does not easily maintain the characteristics of the mother plant. Cuttage has a low survival rate of branches and is not suitable, so grafting is generally used for apple propagation.
Grafting Methods
Apple tree grafting methods include: side grafting (a type of branch grafting) and bud grafting. The former method can begin in early spring when the rootstocks are active (from late March to early April in Beijing). The latter method involves grafting a bud piece from the mother plant onto the rootstock from early August to mid-September during the growing season. Currently, the bud grafting method is commonly used due to its high efficiency and ease of survival. The rootstocks are generally chosen to be hawthorns or mountain sea-buckthorns, with hawthorns being more flood and drought resistant, and commonly used as rootstocks in Beijing.
Apple Tree Planting Techniques and Management Methods
Grafting Techniques:
1. Rootstock
Select one-year-old seedlings, remove the buds and leaves above 15-20 centimeters from the ground in July, and when the ground diameter is 0.3-0.5 centimeters, the grafting can be performed. Generally, 60-75% of one-year-old seedlings can meet this standard. If it is a two-year-old conservation seedling, the buds also need to be removed.
2. Grafting Period
If the grafting task is large, it can be carried out from early August to late September, but the best period is from mid-August to mid-September. Early grafting should be done with varieties that are not easy to germinate, and for late grafting, attention should be paid to rootstock management to prevent the rootstock from stopping growth.
3. Scion Selection
Select one-year-old branches that are full of tissue, with plump buds and growing branches (do not use branches with top buds affected by pests). After picking, immediately leave a 2-centimeter petiole and remove all leaves to reduce water evaporation. The best part of the bud is the middle section, as the base is not easy to germinate, and the tip is not full enough. It is best to graft immediately after picking.
Grafting
1. Cutting Bud Slice
Hold the scion with the left hand and the knife with the right hand. First, make a horizontal cut 0.8 centimeters above the bud, then make an upward diagonal cut 1.2 centimeters below the bud, cut into the xylem, push the knife up to the bud, gently lever up, and remove the bud slice.
2. Inserting Bud
Hold the knife with the right hand, make a horizontal cut on the smooth surface of the rootstock 5-10 centimeters from the ground (but not exceeding the circumference), then make a vertical cut in the middle of the horizontal cut, lever the knife tip to the left to insert the bud, then lever to the right to insert the other side of the bud, and after cutting, push the bud slice down with the thumb to make the upper cut of the bud slice meet the horizontal cut of the rootstock.
3. Binding
Soak the dodder in water, take out one root for binding, either from bottom to top or from top to bottom, generally bind 3-4 times, with the key parts being where the horizontal cut meets and where the bud inner contacts the xylem of the rootstock. The binding should not be too tight or too loose. The dodder can be removed after 15-20 days, and it is best to have sunny weather after grafting, but it is not too afraid of rain. The following spring, the apple trees can germinate.
First-year Management After Grafting: By the end of March, the rootstock can be cut once above the bud at 0.5-0.8 centimeters. For varieties with less upright growth, such as Red元帅, the rootstock should be cut off 25 centimeters from the ground to bind the bud seedlings, and when the seedlings reach 40 centimeters tall, the rootstock can be cut off above the bud at 0.8-1 centimeters. In the first year after grafting, it is best to provide a lot of water and fertilizer in early spring, pay attention to removing buds, and prevent pests such as weevils and chafer beetles. The seedlings should grow 1-1.2 meters in one year to meet the requirements for trunk formation. No additional fertilizer should be applied after July, but water can be appropriately irrigated during drought to facilitate tissue consolidation and safe overwintering.
Apple Tree Pruning
1. Spring Pruning
Carried out from germination to the flowering period, using techniques such as bud removal, thinning, bud stimulation, girdling, and other measures to complete the pruning tasks. Young orchards also include tasks such as branch training and pruning.
2. Summer Pruning
Using techniques such as opening angles, pinching, twisting, girdling, thinning, and cutting to slow down tree growth, improve light conditions, and expand the canopy.
3. Autumn Pruning
Through measures such as branch training, thinning of vertical branches, long branches, dense branches, and over-dense outer new shoots to improve light conditions, promote bud differentiation, and enhance the cold resistance of the tree.
4. Winter
Winter pruning is carried out from after the leaves fall in winter to before spring germination. The main tasks are to thin out diseased and dense branches, long branches, and other useless branches, using methods such as shortening the main branches, reducing the length of long and large fruiting branches, and reducing the vigor of main branches. The purpose is to adjust the angles and growth directions of main branches, supporting branches, and fruiting branches, balance the ratio of flowers to leaves, and achieve high yields.
Fertilization Management
Fertilization is generally divided into accumulated fertilizer and top dressing, with specific times depending on the variety, fertilizer requirements, and tree growth and fruiting conditions. Generally, it is best to fertilize four times a year. The first time is before flowering or at the germination stage (early April). The second time is after flowering (mid-May). These two fertilizations can effectively promote germination, flowering, and prevent nutrient depletion due to flowering, improve fruit set, and promote new branch growth. The third time is during the bud differentiation and young fruit expansion period, which can meet the needs of fruit expansion, branch and leaf growth, and bud differentiation. The last time is in autumn fertilization (mid-September), mainly using farmyard manure, with phosphorus applied in full annual amount. To fully utilize the fertilizer, the phosphorus fertilizer should be mixed with organic fertilizer first and then applied after decomposition.
Flower and Fruit Management
1. Artificial Pollination
In years with poor climate and few flowers, artificial pollination or releasing bees during the full bloom period of apples can ensure fruit setting. For trees with many flowers or in years with many flowers, thinning of flower buds should be carried out when the flower buds are swelling, including removing weak ones and keeping strong ones, blocking flower branches, and shortening short fruiting branch strings. This can not only improve fruit set but also increase fruit size and promote the formation of flower buds in fruiting branches, which is an effective measure to overcome the alternation of large and small crops. Spraying boron during the flowering period in boron-deficient orchards can significantly improve fruit set.
2. Thinning Flowers and Fruit
From the early to late full bloom period, thin flowers according to requirements, and from 1-4 weeks after flowering, remove excess young fruit. This is a necessary measure to prevent or overcome the alternation of large and small fruiting years.
3. Preventing Pre-harvest Fruit Drop
Some apple varieties have serious pre-harvest fruit drop, which can be effectively reduced by spraying a certain concentration of tea acetic acid or sodium naproenate solution on the fruit cluster 30-40 days and 20 days before harvest.
Disease Control
Generally, with good orchard management and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization, the chance of apple trees getting sick is relatively low. Of course, to prevent diseases, it is possible to spray some preventive fungicides, such as carbendazim, annually. When apple trees are found to be sick, the appropriate drugs should be used for treatment according to the condition.
Many people mistakenly believe that apples cannot be grown in the south. However, in reality, apples can be grown in the south, but it is more difficult, and the trees are prone to diseases. Even if the diseases are diseases are eradicated, the quality of the apples produced will be very poor. This is like planting southern oranges in the north.
The above is the specific content of apple tree planting techniques, management methods, and key annual management techniques for everyone's reference and operation.