Quince: planting and care in the open field, reproduction, disease and pest control

Planting and caring for quince in the open field is not difficult, and even a beginner in gardening can handle it. When planting, you should strictly follow the rules of agricultural technology and do not forget about care. After all, without this it is impossible to grow a good harvest.

What you need to know when planting quince

Before planting a quince seedling, it is important to study all the details. The future yield, as well as the he alth of the tree, depends on the correctness of the event. First of all, it is important to study the soil requirements of quince and what place to choose for planting.

How to choose a he althy and strong seedling

Only the he althiest and strongest seedlings are suitable for planting. Weak trees do not take root well, and in some cases do not take root at all. Seedlings should be with a well-developed root system. The roots are firm and not dry. The stems are strong, do not break when bent and without signs of damage. The main stem is strong and thick.

Soil Requirements

The root system of quince is of the surface type, so it is advisable to plant the plant on loamy soils. Sandy loamy soils are also suitable, but the yield will be slightly worse. Fruit crops are also planted near the location of groundwater. In this case, the distance between the rhizome and groundwater should not be less than 1.5 m.

Choose the right place

To get a rich harvest, quince is planted in open sunny areas.In the shade and even partial shade, the plant grows poorly and gives a poor harvest. It is not recommended to plant a tree in a lowland and in those places where water accumulates in spring. Excessive moisture damages the root system.

How to plant quince

Growing quince is quite simple, the main thing is to follow the rules of agricultural technology. It is important to determine the timing of planting and study the technology of planting a seedling in a permanent place.

Optimal planting dates

Quince is planted twice a year - in spring and autumn. Each seedling planting period has its own advantages. Many summer residents still do not agree on what time of the year is the most optimal.

Spring

When planting in the spring, the soil begins to be harvested in the fall. The principle of preparation is the same as for autumn planting. Quince is planted after the earth has completely warmed up. Immediately before planting, the ground is slightly loosened.The advantage of spring planting is that the seedling does not have to survive the winter.

Autumn

If the autumn period is chosen for planting quince, the soil should be prepared in the spring. The soil is dug up and organic top dressing is applied. Planting begins in autumn. September-October are considered optimal terms. Quince should be planted before the onset of cold weather. The advantage of autumn planting is that the seedling will have time to take root in a new place during the winter, and will immediately enter the growth phase in spring.

Scheme and technology of disembarkation

The technology of planting quince is practically no different from planting other fruit crops. How to plant quince seedlings in open ground:

• Dig a hole to a depth of 1 m.
• Mix topsoil with manure and wood ash.
• Drive a stake into the center of the hole.
• Carefully place the seedling and straighten the roots.
• Buy the hole with earth and lightly tamp the soil near the trunk.
• Tie the seedling to the stake for the first time until it takes root in a new place.

At the end of planting, the quince is abundantly watered with sun-warmed water.

Agrotechnology

Caring for a culture is not that difficult. Although garden quince is rarely found in domestic summer cottages, its cultivation is no different from the cultivation of any other fruit crops. It is important to regularly feed the plant and carry out preventive procedures against diseases and insects.

Feeding and watering quince at their summer cottage

Water and fertilize 4 times per season:

• First time - during bud formation.
• Second time - during the flowering period.
• Third time - when fruiting begins.
• The last one - before the onset of cold weather in preparation for winter.

In the first half of the season, nitrogen-containing fertilizers are used. For example, ammonium nitrate or urea. In the second half of the season, quince needs potassium and phosphorus. Superphosphate and nitrophoska are used as dressings.

In addition, manure, compost, bird droppings or dolomite flour are added to the soil.

How to properly tie a quince in the first year of life

After planting, young quince seedlings are tied to a stake until they take root in a new place. The stake must be the same height as the tree. The trunk is tied up so that it does not bend, but stands straight.

Shaping the crown of a tree

An important stage in the cultivation of any fruit tree is crown formation.

Cutting patterns and technology

The procedure is carried out twice a season - in spring and autumn. Rejuvenating pruning is carried out in the spring, and sanitary pruning in the fall. If necessary, additional summer pruning is carried out. Remove the stems only with sharp secateurs so that there are no creases. The cut points must be disinfected.

Work period

Pruning preferably on a warm, dry day. It is better to look at the weather forecast so that prolonged or heavy rains do not begin a few days before the procedure and after it. The most favorable is the evening after sunset.

Spring molding

In the spring, young shoots and part of the branches are cut. 3-4 skeletal branches are left on the tree, the rest is cut off. If the quince variety is tall, cut off part of the top as well.

Summer

Summer pruning is carried out if the tree is infected with some disease, and to prevent its development, part of the branches has to be removed.

Autumn

Sanitary pruning is carried out in autumn. Remove all dry and damaged branches, leaving only he althy ones.

Mulching

Mulch the soil in autumn after harvest. The soil around the trunk is dug up and weeds are removed. As mulch, use manure, peat or sawdust. The layer of mulch should not be less than 15 cm.

How a tree reproduces

How to grow quince from seeds? Many summer residents are interested in this question. But quince can be grown not only from seeds. There are many methods for propagating a tree.

Seeds

For autumn planting, it is not necessary to wait several months until the seeds are ready.Cut the largest and he althiest fruit from the tree. Leave it for a month to ripen. After a month, remove the seeds, rinse them under water and dry. Plant the seeds directly into the ground. Plant and cover them with spruce branches. In the spring, small quince sprouts should appear in this place. When the sprouts grow up and are strong enough, they need to be planted apart.

Root offspring

Another way of reproduction is by root offspring. Each tree nearby has young shoots that gradually grow and become a full-fledged tree. To propagate quince with this method, it is enough to separate the root offspring from the mother tree and plant them in a new place. This method is considered the easiest.

Layers

In autumn, young shoots should be cut, the age of which does not exceed two years. Then they are bent to the ground and covered with soil.First, you should dig grooves 5-9 cm deep and place the shoots there. After the shoots are laid, they should be fixed. In the spring, the roots will appear at the layers, and in the autumn of the same year they can be planted in new places.

By cuttings

Propagate quince and cuttings. This method is used if there is a goal to preserve the varietal characteristics of a particular tree. To harvest cuttings from a tree, young green shoots are cut. Lignified shoots are undesirable to use. The cuttings should be 20-25 cm long and each should have 4-5 buds.

The cuttings are cut with a sharp pruner so that there are no creases. The lower cut is performed at an acute angle, and the upper one is made at a right angle above the kidney itself. Before planting cuttings in the soil, they are placed for a day in a solution that activates growth. After that, the cuttings are planted in the ground. You can transplant to a permanent place after a year.

Inoculation

Growing in this way is suitable for experienced growers. In most cases, quince or an apple tree is used as a stock. As a scion, take a he althy twig without signs of damage with several buds. Quince is propagated by grafting in the spring, after warm weather sets in.

Quince diseases and their control

To learn how to properly deal with quince diseases, you need to study what diseases most often affect trees. Treatment should be aimed not only at eliminating the cause of the disease, but also preventing further occurrence of diseases.

Leaf brownness

When brownish leaves dry, and small brown spots appear on them. Then they fall off. In order to cure quince, after flowering, they are treated with a solution of Bordeaux liquid.

Grey Rot

This disease is characterized by the appearance of necrosis - large brown spots on the shoots and leaves, which rapidly increase in size. If prolonged precipitation began on the street, the affected areas are covered with a white fluffy coating. The danger of gray rot is that its pathogen can spread to any plants in the garden.

To combat gray rot, drugs "Topaz", "Kuproksat" are used. As preventive measures, you must adhere to the following rules:

• Regularly remove weeds from the site.
• After harvesting, treat trees with Bordeaux liquid or copper-containing chemicals.
• In spring, water the soil around the trunk with copper-containing preparations.

These measures will be enough to prevent gray rot from appearing on the site.

Rust

Another disease that occurs on quince is rust. Signs of rust:

• The appearance of orange bumps on the top of the leaf.
• Pustules form on the bottom.
• The spots develop into stripes as the disease progresses.
• Leaves turn yellow and fall massively.

To fight rust, trees are treated with fungicides after leafing out. Processing should be two with a break of two weeks.

Powdery mildew

The first signs of the appearance of powdery mildew are a white or red coating on the tips of annual shoots. As the disease progresses, the plaque thickens and becomes brown with black dots. The shoots do not develop, the leaves are deformed, and the ovaries massively crumble. To combat powdery mildew after flowering, the trees are treated with fungicides.After 2-3 weeks, the treatment is repeated.

Ovary decay

Another reason why quince blooms but does not bear fruit is the rotting of the ovaries. The ovaries begin to rot on the tree for a variety of reasons. Initially, dark spots appear on the leaves, which, as the disease develops, spread throughout the leaf. Then the spores fall into the ovaries, and the inflorescences begin to fall off.

You need to fight decay with the help of the drug "Fundazol". First, all dry and damaged branches are cut and dry fruits are destroyed. The culture is treated with the preparation during the flowering of inflorescences and after it.

Moniliosis

This disease affects trees that grow in climates with wet springs. The disease first affects fruits with mechanical damage. Brown spots appear on the peel, which quickly increase in size. The pulp becomes loose, then the fruits fall off.To combat moniliosis, the preparations "Abiga-peak", "Rovral", Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate are used.

Pests and prevention methods

But not only diseases affect the culture. Often, harmful insects can also be found on the tree. To combat them, chemicals and folk methods are used.

Leaf Moth

The leaf moth is often found on quince. Of particular danger to the tree are insect larvae that feed on the leaves of the tree. If larvae of the leaf-mining moth appeared on the culture, the leaves first become light, and then fall off. You can get rid of the insect with the help of the drug "Fundazol".

Fruit mites

Fruit mites suck the juice from young shoots, which subsequently fall off.Due to the pest, productivity decreases, and the tree stops growing. One of the signs of the appearance of a fruit mite is the appearance of sticky spots on a tree. Urea will help get rid of the insect. This product is sprayed in the fall after harvest.

Apple codling moth

Apple codling moth multiplies rapidly, and several generations can change over the summer. To destroy the pest, plants are treated with Lepidocid or Dendrobacillin.

Aphid

The danger of aphids on fruit trees lies not only in the fact that it sucks the juice from the leaves, but also carries viral diseases. These diseases can no longer be cured. To combat aphids, use a soap solution, as well as insecticides. As you know, the first sign of the appearance of pests is the appearance of ants on the site, so they will also have to be fought.

What can be grafted onto quince

Some varieties of pears and apples can be grafted onto quince. Quince is also planted.

When a young tree begins to bear fruit

Quince begins to bear fruit quite early after planting. Depending on the method of planting, the timing of entry into fruiting may vary. Seed-grown trees begin to bear fruit in the 4th-5th year.

Seedlings grown by cuttings begin to bear fruit earlier, 2-3 years after planting. Flowering begins later than other crops, when the threat of spring frosts is over.

Ripening and harvesting dates

For those summer residents who plant quince for the first time and harvest, such questions: how to store and when to harvest, become more relevant than ever. Quince is one of the latest fruits, so you can prepare for harvest only in October.And sometimes the collection of fruits stretches until November. If meteorologists predict an early winter, then you need to harvest without waiting for the onset of frost. Even if the fruits do not have time to ripen to the end.

The first sign that it's time to harvest - the fruits began to crumble en masse. But it’s not worth waiting for the moment until everything falls off. Such fruits do not keep for a long time. It is better to pick quince while most of the fruit is hanging on the tree.

Store crops in a cool, high humidity environment. If there are many fruits, they should be stored in sand or sawdust. It is undesirable to keep the fruits next to the pear, such a neighborhood contributes to the fact that the quince quickly ripens and deteriorates.

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