Wax apple planting technology and management methods

Wax apple, also known as heavenly peach, water wax apple or foreign wax apple, belongs to the genus Erythroxylum of the Myrtaceae family. It is an important fruit widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions. It is native to Southeast Asia and is now cultivated in Taiwan, Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Yunnan and Fujian in China. Its economic prospects are relatively good, and there are still many friends who want to grow it. Let’s learn together about the wax apple planting techniques and management methods.

1. Seedling cultivation

The main methods of propagating wax apples are layering, cuttings and grafting. Layering propagation is usually carried out from June to August. Select three-year-old strong branches, peel them in a ring shape, and wrap them with a mixture of moist soil and weeds. After one month, new roots will grow and they can be transplanted. For grafting propagation, seedlings are used as rootstocks and 1 to 3 year old full branches are used as scions. Grafting can be done throughout the year, but the survival rate is higher in April to May or September to October.

2. Garden construction

Choose deep, fertile, moist, slightly acidic or neutral soil for gardening. Large orchards should have roads and drainage and irrigation systems to facilitate management and fruit tree growth. Orchards with conditions can create shelterbelts and build auxiliary buildings.

3. Land preparation

After removing debris, weeds and rocks, deep plow the soil, expose it to the sun for a few days, and then level the land. When planting on slopes, build terraces to accommodate the growth of wax apples.

4. Dig holes and apply basal fertilizer

Dig holes according to the plant spacing. The hole size is generally 100 cm × 80 cm × 80 cm. Apply base fertilizer before planting. Apply 15 kg of manure, 1 kg of calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer, 0.3 kg of compound fertilizer and 35 kg of crushed soil in each hole. After covering with fine soil, the holes can be planted about 20 days later.

5. Planting

The time for planting is spring and autumn. Dense planting can be carried out in the early stage, and thinning can be carried out in the later stage to ensure quality and yield. When transplanting, be careful to prevent the roots from contacting the basal fertilizer. After transplanting, water the roots in time and check the survival status.

6. Young tree management

It includes irrigation, fertilization, soil loosening, weeding, pruning and pest and disease control, laying the foundation for a high yield of fruit trees.

7. Result Tree Management

Ensure stable and high yields of fruit trees and improve fruit quality, including measures such as water management, fertilization, pruning, thinning flowers and fruits, inter-row cultivation and weeding, and bagging to protect fruits.

8. Wax Apple Tip Control Technology

The production period is regulated through irrigation, root cutting, ring barking, shading, pruning and other methods to meet market demand.

9. Pest and disease control

Adopt a comprehensive prevention and control strategy, use low-toxic and high-efficiency pesticides, adhere to the principle of harmless management, and effectively prevent and control anthracnose, fruit rot, blight and major pests.

In short, as one of the tropical fruits with higher economic benefits, wax apple can be harvested 3 years after planting, and enters the peak production period after 5 years, with the yield per mu reaching 5,000 jin. But we can't plant blindly.