Loquats mature every other year. How to avoid being "frozen"?
Develop frost-avoidance zones for loquat cultivation
The occurrence and degree of frost damage to loquat are not only affected by meteorological factors, but also by botanical factors (such as variety, rootstock type, tree age, growth status, cultivation and management level, etc.). Among the meteorological factors, in addition to the influence of low temperature (including low temperature intensity, low temperature form, cooling amplitude, low temperature occurrence period and duration, etc.), it is also related to wind direction, wind speed, air humidity, and weather conditions before and after freezing damage. Therefore, loquat production zoning should be divided according to loquat's comprehensive ecological conditions such as temperature, soil, rainfall, and sunshine, as well as social conditions such as market and transportation, as well as the severity of loquat freeze damage in the region.
Carry out weather forecasting for freezing damage to fruit trees
Do a good job in weather forecasting for freezing damage, take comprehensive anti-freezing measures before and during freezing, and strengthen care in a timely manner after freezing.
Cultivation and selection of cold-resistant varieties
Generally, northern subtropical varieties are more cold-resistant than south subtropical varieties. Early-maturing varieties are most susceptible to freezing, and mid-maturing varieties are more susceptible to cold than late-maturing varieties. freeze. Therefore, different loquat varieties should be selected according to the climate of the cultivation area and the site conditions of the orchard to reduce freezing damage.
Scientific selection of loquat cultivation sites and rational use of microclimate
Suitable planting in mountainous areas should be on southeastern slopes sheltered from the wind. Mountains with higher altitudes should be located on the mountainside to take advantage of the temperature inversion layer. The temperature drop around lakes, mountain ponds and reservoirs is relatively small when hit by cold currents, making them good planting sites. In order to prevent cold air from sinking and cold winds blowing, evergreen economic forest protection belts can be planted around the orchard to improve the orchard's microclimate.
Strengthen comprehensive cultivation and enhance frost and cold resistance
According to surveys, weak loquat trees have few and small leaves, which reduces the heat preservation effect of the leaves on the fruits in the crown; flowers The ears are thin and weak, with few flowers per ear. The flowering period is early and short, and it is susceptible to frost damage. Therefore, adopting comprehensive management centered on strengthening fertilizer and water management, rational pruning and disease and insect pest control, cultivating strong tree vigor and maintaining a reasonable leaf-to-fruit ratio is the basis for improving the tree's frost resistance.
Emergency measures before freezing
Adjust the flowering period and limit the results
Utilize late-blooming flowers. Young fruits produced by early-blooming flowers have a higher chance of being frozen, while late-blooming flowers can avoid freezing damage. However, flowers that bloom too late generally have poor growth and development, and the growth and development period of young fruits is short, and the fruits are small and poorly colored. In areas susceptible to freezing damage, if flowers and fruits bloom from mid-to-late December to mid-January of the following year, bud thinning and topdressing of "Boshimai Compound Fertilizer High Nitrogen Type" should be used.
Dry the roots. That is, before flowering, peel off the root soil and see roots about 1 cm thick, dry them in the sun for about 7 to 10 days, and then apply fertilizer and cover them with soil, which can delay flowering for about half a month.
Smoking to prevent frost
According to the weather forecast, before the arrival of frost or cold wave, the garden will use garbage, chaff, wet firewood or weeds to smoke and heat the air in the garden. , reduce the harm of radiation cooling and resist short-term low temperature.