Cultivation techniques of Dahongpao litchi seedlings

The Dahongpao lychee tree is strong but has a weak stem. The bark is grayish white, the tree has strong adaptability, and produces high and stable yields. The fruit is long heart-shaped or heart-shaped, large, and dark red in color. The fruit matures in mid-to-late July. Let's talk about the cultivation techniques of Dahongpao lychee seedlings.

‌1. Variety characteristics‌

The Dahongpao lychee tree is strong, has a weak trunk, has grayish-white bark, and has strong adaptability. The fruit is long heart-shaped or heart-shaped, large, dark red in color, with sharp scales and narrow and distinct lines. The fruit usually matures in mid-to-late July and is one of the main cultivated varieties in Hejiang area.

2. Planting site selection

In order to promote the good growth of litchi, the planting site should be selected on hills or slopes with open terrain, loose and fertile soil and deep soil layer. It is recommended to choose a south slope or southeast slope because these places have high temperatures and long sunshine, which are conducive to the coloring and quality improvement of the fruit. For soil, choose slightly acidic soil, such as red soil or yellow soil, with a pH value between 5 and 6.5. Avoid using alkaline soil as this may cause litchi yellowing ‌2.

‌3. Planting technology

The planting row spacing of litchi should be determined according to the specific variety and cultivation management requirements. Since litchi is an evergreen fruit tree with a tall crown and long lifespan, and its root system is widely distributed, it is recommended to build an orchard in a place with a slope of less than 20 degrees to facilitate drainage and soil and water conservation. During the planting process, attention should be paid to the correct implementation of grafting techniques, such as bark grafting, ensuring that the cambium of the scion and the rootstock are aligned to improve the survival rate.

4. Water and fertilizer management

Lychees grow better in a humid environment. Providing water to the plants in time will help the growth of litchi. But you must be careful to control the amount of water and keep the soil moist. Do not over-water, otherwise it may cause the roots of the plant to rot or even cause the death of the plant. Fertilization is mainly based on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer , supplemented by organic fertilizer and potassium sulfate. During the rapid growth stage of litchi, you can apply compound fertilizer mainly composed of nitrogen fertilizer and mix it with organic fertilizer ; when the plants are flowering and bearing fruit, you can apply compound fertilizer mainly composed of phosphorus and potassium and apply potassium sulfate.

‌5. Pruning and maintenance

Litchi sprouts and bears fruit quickly, so it is necessary to prune and trim the plants in time to concentrate nutrients on plants with strong branches and good growth, which will help increase litchi yield and quality. Prune diseased branches, dead branches, and branches and leaves affected by diseases and insect pests in a timely manner, and collect them together in a timely manner to prevent other branches and leaves from being infected by diseases.

‌6. Control shoots and promote flowering‌

When caring for litchi, artificial control of shoots and promotion of flowering is usually carried out in November, because at this time the old shoots are slowly aging and new shoots are gradually sprouting. For young trees with good growth and adult trees with fewer fruits, ring cutting can be used to promote flowering.

‌7. Disease and pest control‌

In the cultivation and maintenance of any crop, pests and diseases are very critical issues. It is necessary to prevent and control diseases and insect pests in time to maintain the healthy growth of litchi.

In summary, the cultivation and planting management techniques of Dahongpao litchi involve variety selection, suitability of planting sites, correct planting techniques, and subsequent management measures. Through reasonable variety selection and scientific cultivation management, high-yield and high-quality Dahongpao lychees can be obtained.