Management techniques for kiwifruit in June

June is a crucial period for kiwifruit cultivation, as it is the stage when kiwifruit fruits expand rapidly. It is also the peak period for fruit trees to require fertilizer and a period when diseases and insect pests occur more frequently. Therefore, management measures this month are particularly critical. Let’s learn about kiwifruit management techniques in June.

1. Fruit thinning and fruit setting

Complete fruit thinning within 15 to 20 days after flowering, giving priority to removing deformed fruits, diseased and insect-infested fruits, dead fruits and small fruits due to poor pollination, and retaining normal fruits with well-developed and thick fruit stalks. Adjust the number of fruits according to the length of the fruiting branches. Keep 3 to 4 fruits on long fruit branches, 2 to 3 fruits on medium fruit branches, and 1 fruit on short fruit branches. Take appropriate measures according to the growth and fruiting conditions of the fruit trees and remove poorly pollinated fruits in a timely manner.

2. Watering

June is the critical period for kiwifruit's water demand, and sufficient water supply must be ensured to meet the fruit's growth needs. Irrigate in time according to soil moisture and fertilization conditions, and implement water-fertilizer integrated technology as much as possible. Avoid irrigating during the high midday temperatures to prevent the sudden drop in ground temperature from causing the tree to wilt.

3. Nutrition management

During the rapid growth stage of the fruit, it should be ensured that reproductive growth obtains 85% of the nutritional allocation and vegetative growth accounts for 15%. Strictly control secondary buds and excess nutrient branches, and promptly cut off branches sprouting from the base. For branches that are located higher, you can prune them after leaving 2 to 3 leaves on the fruit.

4. Topdressing

In early June, apply 200 kg/mu of organic complete nutrient fertilizer to kiwifruit orchards in the peak fruit-bearing period, or apply 1 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer to each plant, and apply 0.5 kg of microbial fertilizer.

5. Pest and disease control

After the fruits are set, the entire orchard is treated with pesticides, mainly targeting pests and diseases such as stink bugs, spotted wax cicadas, oriental firewood beetles and brown spot disease. You can choose to use 2500 times diluted 2.5% chlorfenapyr, combined with 800 times diluted agroantigen 120 or polyoxin for spraying.

6. Summer pruning

Thin out dense and entangled branches to maintain a balance between vegetative growth and reproductive growth. At the same time, tie the vines evenly and improve ventilation and lighting conditions to ensure that there are evenly distributed flower shade spots on the ground under the frame at noon.

7. Weed management

When the herbs or weeds in the orchard grow more than 30 cm, they should be mowed, usually leaving a stubble height of 10 cm, and the mowed grass should be covered around the tree pan. Remove malignant weeds promptly, keep the orchard moist and cool, and avoid direct high temperatures that may damage kiwifruit.

The above is an introduction to the management details of kiwifruit in June. Of course, the specific management methods still require kiwifruit growers to formulate plans based on the actual growth conditions of their own orchards.