How to Cultivate Apple Trees
Let me tell you about how to cultivate apple trees and the detailed cultivation methods of green plants and flowers. Keep reading!
Apple trees are deciduous trees of the Rosaceae family, Malus genus, and are one of the most famous fruits in the world. Apples are native to eastern Turkey and are mainly distributed in Liaoning, Hebei, Gansu, Sichuan, and other places in China. Next, let me introduce the cultivation methods of apple trees.
1. Potting Soil
If you are cultivating apple trees in pots, it is best to use clay pots; the soil should be loose, fertile, well-ventilated, and good at drainage, maintaining a pH value around 6.5. You can mix garden soil, coal slag, decomposed leaf soil, and sawdust in proportions as the soil for cultivating apple trees. Before potting, trim the roots of the seedlings, removing rotten roots and long roots.
2. Sunlight
Apple trees need plenty of sunlight for photosynthesis to accumulate nutrients and ensure the quality of the fruit; they require 180 frost-free days during their growing period, as well as as much sunlight and heat as possible.
3. Temperature
Apple trees are adaptable to various climates, suitable for growing in temperate regions, with an optimal growth temperature of about 23 degrees Celsius. They are cold-resistant but not frost-resistant, able to survive in temperatures as low as -4 degrees Celsius. However, low temperatures and frost can affect the yield and quality of apples. Therefore, measures should be taken to keep them warm during the winter.
4. Fertilization
Fertilization is divided into two stages. In the spring, when the trees begin to sprout, apply a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer to promote sprouting. During the flowering period, spray borax solution and pause fertilization. After the flowering period, use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers instead of nitrogen fertilizers to supplement the plant's nutrition, ensuring the tree's growth for the following year. After the autumn harvest, replace the soil and add new nutritious soil to the potting mix to prevent soil compaction and malnutrition.
5. Watering
Watering should follow the principle of "water when dry and wet when seen," not watering until dry and watering thoroughly when done, keeping the soil moist, especially during the early fruiting stage. Insufficient water can affect the quantity and quality of the fruit. During the plum rain season, reduce watering and focus on drainage and avoiding rain to prevent waterlogging and affect fruit setting.
6. Pruning
Different varieties of apple trees have different pruning methods, mainly including steps such as trimming buds, thinning flowers, and follow-up pruning. At the end of March or the beginning of April, make a cut in front of the central main branch and remove the buds from the other branches. Thinning flowers means removing extra flower buds from the same branch in late April to achieve the "fruit setting with flowers" effect. Follow-up pruning involves delaying winter pruning until after germination for non-fruiting trees. If there are too many flowering branches during the fruiting period, reduce the number of flowering branches.
7. Bagging
During the fruiting period of apple trees, bagging is necessary. Bagging can make apples more colorful and protect against pests. The choice of bags is very important. Choose bags that are breathable, non-permeable, and have strong light-blocking properties, with the inner bags not fading and having air holes. Therefore, select standard bags carefully when cultivating.
8. Diseases and Pests
Brown spot disease and leaf spot disease are the most common diseases in apple trees. Brown spot disease usually occurs before the rainy season and can be controlled by spraying with fungicides like thiophanate-methyl, carbendazim, or thiabendazole. For leaf spot disease, you can use mancozeb and other fungicides. It is also important to clean the orchard and promptly remove diseased branches and leaves to prevent the infection of other fruit trees.
The above is the specific content on how to cultivate apple trees and the detailed cultivation methods, for your reference and operation.