How many years does it take for bergamot to bear fruit?

Introduction to Growing Bergamot

Bergamot is generally distributed in hilly plains at an altitude of 300-500 meters. It is widely planted in southern China, mostly in courtyards or orchards. It is cultivated and produced in Guangdong, Sichuan, Guangxi, Anhui, Yunnan, Fujian and other provinces.

Bergamot planting results after several years

After bergamot is planted, it will bear fruit in the third year, and start to produce in full production in 5-6 years. It has a lifespan of 20-30 years. Bergamot is an asexually propagated plant with infertile seeds. The main methods of reproduction are cuttings and grafting.

Bergamot likes warm and humid climate and likes light, but avoids direct sunlight and shade. It is not only afraid of drought, but also afraid of water and cold. The best temperature is 25~35 degrees. It likes fertilizer and should be combined with watering and timely topdressing.

It is applied once a week during the spring growth period, and twice a week during the vigorous growth period (from mid-June to mid-July), mainly using phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, less nitrogen fertilizer, and 2 to 3 times a month. After fruiting, in order to restore the tree vigor and promote flower bud differentiation, it is conducive to flowering and fruiting next year.

Grafted bergamot blooms and bears fruit

If the grafted bergamot is properly cared for, it can produce a small amount of fruit in the third year, and enter its peak production period in the fifth year. It can produce fruit for more than 10 years, with a yield of about 40 to 70 kilograms per plant, and a high-yield yield of more than 4,000 kilograms per mu.

Potted bergamot fruiting

If the potted bergamot is properly maintained, it can bear fruit in the same year. It needs to provide a temperature of 20-25 degrees and is suitable for planting in acidic sandy loam with a pH value of 7.0-7.2.

Why doesn't bergamot bear fruit?

The reason why bergamot does not bear fruit is that it is not given enough light in autumn and winter, secondly, it has not been supplemented with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for a long time, thirdly, whether the principle of watering is followed when the soil is dry and watering when it is wet, and fourthly, whether artificial pollination and fruit thinning are carried out during the flowering period.

Bergamot planting tips

1. Soil: Bergamot prefers acidic and fertile sandy loam with a pH value of 7.0-7.2 in the south, while fertile sandy garden soil is better for cultivation in the north.

2. Reproduction: Use cuttings, grafting (bud grafting, branch grafting or approach grafting), and the rootstock can be citron (wild orange used for planting fences), orange, tangerine, orange, or grapefruit seedlings. For large-scale grafting, use citron seedlings for grafting (in late autumn, when the citron or orange fruits turn yellow and ripe, take out the seeds and bury them in moist sand. Keep them in the sand until the following spring when sowing and seedlings are raised. Add fertilizer and water appropriately and graft in the same year or the next year).

3. Temperature and light: When the temperature in the north drops to 5℃ in late autumn, you should build a plastic shed or move the plant indoors for protection. It is best to keep the temperature between 15-25℃. It can withstand short-term low temperatures of 1-3℃. If the temperature is below 0℃ for a long time, the plant will freeze and drop leaves. If the temperature is -6℃ for a long time, the plant will freeze to death. You should strive for the longest period of sunlight every day.

4. Water and fertilizer: Water use is a crucial link. There is a saying among flower growers: "Wintersweets cannot be killed by drought, and citrus fruits cannot be killed by floods", so Buddha's hand cannot lack water, and the root soil should always be kept moist.

5. Fertilization: For every acre of irrigation, use 12 pounds of bean cake, 25 pounds of poultry and livestock manure, and 5 pounds of black alum (i.e. ferrous sulfate, available at various chemical stores) to ferment in 600 pounds of water for 10 to 15 days, and combine it with watering. Combine it with tillage and weeding, and apply a small amount of bone meal or crushed bone residue to the roots. Do not use too much fertilizer or too often.