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Fruit growing can be deliciously rewarding, but success
depends on choosing a good site, as well as planting fruit
varieties that are suitable for a specific location. This must be
flowed with proper maintenance of the trees which includes
pruning, training, watering, weeding, fertilization, fruit thinning
and pest disease control.
Watering:
Water is essential for producing large fruit and maintaining
health trees. Trees usually need water at least every three
weeks. In the heat of summer provide a deep, soaking
irrigation at least once a week to maintain healthy trees.
However, over-watering can damage or drown the trees.
Weed control:
Eliminating weed infestation around young trees is critical for
survival and rapid growth. Heavy weed or grass infestation
can result in severe nitrogen deficiency (yellow foliage with red
spots) the trees will then produce little or no growth and often
may die. Ideally, the soil surface should be kept weed-free in
an area at least as wide as the limb spread of the tree. The
safest method is with a hoe. Chemicals are available, but are
hazardous if used carelessly. Do not attempt chemical weed
control unless all aspects of safety and sprayer calibration is
well understood.
Fruit thinning:
Fruit trees growth under favourable conditions set more fruit
than can be properly developed. Removing excess fruit is
necessary to ensure satisfactory development of the remaining
fruit, prevent limb breakage and shortened tree life from
over-cropping. Remove the fruit by hand, approximately 4
weeks after blooms appear. On a branch, space fruit by hand,
approximately 20cm apart.
Pest and disease control:
The best quality fruit is produced when pests and disease are
controlled. Taking action to prevent pests and disease is more
effective than controlling them once they have taken hold.
Grow strong, healthy plants that will have the ability to resist
attack. It is also advisable to rely as much as possible on physical
methods of pest and disease control so as to cut down the
need for chemicals. Only use pesticides when all other effort to
protect the fruit and tress has failed. Hygiene is
essential, remove all diseased material when spotted and burn
or compost it, especially the diseased fruits.
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