There are dozens of varieties of lotus mist. At present, the main varieties cultivated in Hainan are Taiwan Black Pearl and Thailand Red Diamond. The red diamond lotus mist belongs to Thailand big fruit varieties, single leaf opposite, oval. The leaf surface is dark green, the leaves are larger, and the young leaves are purple. The leaves are 20 to 32 cm long and 8 to 15 cm wide, and the fruits are pendulous and long bell-shaped, with a waxy and shiny surface. The fruit is dark red at maturity, with white flesh and little spongy texture. Therefore, most growers choose to plant Thai red diamond rosette.
A、Planting at the right time
1、The planting method of lotus mist
The planting method of lotus mist to wide row is appropriate. Generally choose the row spacing 6m, plant spacing 5m, planting about 330 plants / h㎡. We can choose the plant spacing specifications according to the terrain. You can also consider dwarf dense planting cultivation, and later thin out every other plant. Dig the planting hole at the selected spacing, the hole size is 1m in length, width and depth, and apply not less than 30~40kg of organic fertilizer such as soil manure, green manure, stable manure and pig and cow manure as base fertilizer in each hole. And fill with soil to cover.
2、Planting
We generally in the spring or autumn for careful planting. At this time, the rainfall is sufficient, the seedlings of lotus seedlings planting survival rate is high. First, dig a small hole in the middle of the planting hole that has been returned to the soil. When planting bagged seedlings, we must remove the nutrient bag and put it into the planting hole. Then return to the soil and cover the soil to 2cm of the root of the seedling. After planting, drench enough root water, and cover with thatch or manzanita grass to moisturize. Water every 2 to 3 days on sunny days until the seedlings of lotus seedlings come to life.
B、Water and fertilizer management
1、Young lotus mist tree
For young lotus mist tree, we need to focus on cultivating it to grow strong, evenly distributed backbone branches. Expand the crown to lay a good foundation for early and abundant production. The park should reasonably lay a pipeline irrigation system for lotus mist with lush foliage and high evaporation. At the same time use field weeds, crop straw and other mulching tree pan, and cultivate thin soil to keep moisture moist. The growth of lotus requires a lot of fertilizer, and more nitrogen and potassium fertilizer should be applied in the early stage. One to two-year-old manzanita trees, generally apply nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizer 400 ~ 600g each / plant. Mainly based on the nutrient balance method and soil testing formula fertilization method to determine the fertilization.
2、Fruit-bearing lotus mist tree
For fruit-bearing lotus mist trees, water supply during the flowering period of lotus is crucial. In addition, nutrients directly affect the quality of flowers and fruit yield. Lotus mist needs sufficient water for all periods except before flowering, which must allow the orchard land to be dry. After the formation of flower buds to the fruit development period should be irrigated throughout the garden.
This will prevent flower drop and promote fruit enlargement. Sandy land needs good drainage and irrigation near the ripening and harvesting period. This can avoid excessive wet and dry changes cause fruit drop, fruit cracking and too much water to reduce sugar and affect quality. Lotus flowers and fruits are large, in order to accelerate the fruit development and improve the quality. After flowering, we need to fertilize in a timely and appropriate amount. This can ensure the normal development of lotus flower buds and improve the fruit rate.
C、plastic pruning
Lotus mist grows fast and branches a lot. We need to keep the tree shape and good sunlight ventilation in order to make the tree dwarf, to facilitate harvesting, spraying and other management work and reduce typhoon damage. This will help promote early flowering and improve quality. Therefore, the pruning work is very important.
1、Young lotus tree
For young lotus mist trees, cut the top of the main trunk at 30-50cm from the ground. Generally, only three to four branches are left on the main stem, which should be strong and evenly distributed. The new shoots from the main branches are left as 1 or 2 lateral branches. We can control them manually to form a semi-circular crown. The pruning principle is that it is better to be light than heavy. We mainly prune the dead branches, diseased and insect branches, upright and long branches, drooping and touching branches, as well as the dense branches sprouting from the main trunk and branches. Also cut out cross branches, too dense branches, bending branches, weak branches, so that nutrients are concentrated. This will help to develop a strong backbone and expand the crown. Before the new shoots of lotus flower, pruning 1 to 2 times.
2、Fruitful lotus tree
We should prune the fruiting lotus tree 2 times a year. The first time after the fruit harvesting for heavy pruning. Pruning in principle for the top heavy light, inside heavy outside light. We cut out dead, broken, long and diseased branches from the base. At the same time, thinning dense branches. This can make the sunlight ventilation, so that the inner chamber ventilation. However, the inner branches should not be completely removed. Keep the tree with layers, so as not to affect the lower levels of branches and leaves lighting. At the same time, it lays the foundation for the next year’s production. The second pruning is done before and after the flowering treatment. Light pruning, we cut out the long, upward branches, endogenous branches, disease and pest branches.
D、Flower and fruit preservation
1、Strong fruit fertilizer
Timely application of strong flowers and fruit fertilizer, can prevent fruit drop and cracking. Lotus mist flower buds out neatly after the application of organic fertilizer, compound fertilizer. And in the foliar fertilizer spray 2 to 3 times of trace elements, erythromycin, anti-fall elements. In the case of heavy rain or continuous cloudy days, the use of ring cutting can timely control the tree’s massive absorption of water. This can avoid fruit drop. In the case of severe drought or too cold weather, ring cutting should not be adopted to preserve fruits. Proper supplementation of calcium and boron fertilizer to increase the content of calcium and boron in the fruit skin can prevent fruit cracking. Combine foliar spraying with root drenching, spraying once every 15 days. At present, the market with more compound fertilizer, which is produced by the company Nagirc.
2、Flower thinning and fruit thinning
Flower thinning, fruit thinning, bud removal, reduce nutrient consumption. Lotus mist flower and fruit volume, in order to ensure the normal development of flower buds, improve the fruit rate. We need to timely thinning flowers and fruits, can reduce nutrient consumption. We remove the flower spikes or young fruit at the top of the branch, try to leave the flower spikes and young fruit with 1 to 2 pairs of leaves on the large branch trunk. Remove the upward flowering spikes, try to stay down or on both sides of the flowering spikes. This will prevent the fruit peduncle from breaking when the fruit grows too heavy load. Sourcing from:https://nagric.com/growing-techniques-of-lotus-mist/
