As some early-maturing peach varieties have begun to enter the market, most peach trees are still in the period of rapid enlargement of young fruits and accelerated growth of new shoots. Let's learn about the key cultivation techniques for peach trees in May.
Key Points for Peach Tree Cultivation in May
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Thinning Fruits: For mature peach trees (small fruit type), the number of fruits per tree should be controlled between 220-250, while for mature peach trees (large fruit type), it should be controlled between 180-200. Generally, leave 2 fruits on long fruit branches and 1 fruit on medium and short fruit branches, and remove fruits on the back, base, small fruits, deformed fruits, and diseased and insect-infested fruits. The timing of thinning fruits varies depending on the fruit-setting characteristics and ripening period of each variety.
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Summer Pruning: When the upright new shoots grow to about 15-20 centimeters, leave about 5 centimeters at the base, retain 4-5 leaves on average, and remove the upper tender shoots. Prune away competing branches, overly dense branches, and excessively long branches near the main branches to prevent the peach trees from becoming too dense. Leafless fruit branches of peach trees should be promptly removed from the base to reduce nutrient waste.
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Pest and Disease Control: The main pests and diseases of peach trees this month include aphids, pear leaf-curling midges, bacterial canker, brown rot, anthracnose, and peach tree borers. Rational use of pesticides should be based on weather conditions. For brown rot and anthracnose, spraying with mancozeb zinc oxide can be combined with pest prevention in mid to late May.
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Bagging Management: Bagging should be done from inside to outside, from top to bottom of the entire canopy. Before bagging, a comprehensive pest and disease control operation must be carried out. Bagging should be completed within 2-3 days after spraying pesticides. In case of rain, another spraying should be done before bagging.
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Precautions: In many areas, there is abundant rainfall in summer. To ensure smooth drainage in peach orchards during the rainy season, early cleaning of drainage systems should be done to prevent tree death due to waterlogging. At this time, it is crucial to pay attention to the enlargement of young fruits and pest and disease control. Everyone must focus on these aspects of management.
