Techniques to Care for Durian During the Flowering and Fruiting Stage for a Good Harvest

Mastering the techniques for durian care during the flowering and fruit-setting stage is the key to a bountiful harvest. From watering and fertilizing to pest control, let's explore the secrets to achieving a heavy crop of durian.

Watering regulation techniques

The watering regulation techniques for durian during the flowering and fruit-setting stage play a crucial role in determining the seasonal yield. Providing adequate water helps the plant grow healthily, flower uniformly, and set fruit well. However, both overwatering and underwatering can negatively affect the plant. Below is a detailed guide on watering regulation techniques for durian during this critical stage:

Crab-eye stage:

When the durian tree begins to form crab eyes, signaling the preparation phase for flowering, it is necessary to gradually increase the amount of water. Ensure that the soil moisture is maintained at 70-80%, enough to provide water for the development of crab eyes without making the soil overly wet. Avoid overwatering during this stage as it may stimulate excessive young leaf growth, negatively affecting the subsequent flowering process. Adequate watering will help the plant focus its energy on flower formation.

Flower development stage (flowers 2-3 cm long):

The flower development stage, especially when the flowers are 2-3 cm long, is when the plant needs more water. At this point, increasing watering is crucial to ensure soil moisture reaches 80-85%, helping the flowers develop well while also stimulating the plant to produce young leaves to nourish the future fruit. It is advisable to water regularly in the early morning or late afternoon to prevent rapid evaporation.

Some important notes:

• Observe the weather: The amount of water applied should be adjusted flexibly depending on weather conditions. On hot days, more water is needed, while on rainy days, the watering amount can be reduced or stopped.
• Water evenly across the canopy and root zone: Ensure that the water is distributed evenly throughout the canopy and root for effective water absorption. Avoid concentrating watering in one spot, which wastes water and affects plant development.
• Avoid watering the trunk and flowers: Directly watering the trunk and flowers can create conditions for fungal diseases to develop. It’s advisable to water at the base of the tree or use a drip irrigation system.
• Drip irrigation system: Using a drip irrigation system is an effective solution that saves water and ensures stable moisture for the plants.

By applying the correct watering regulation techniques, gardeners can help durian trees grow healthily, flower simultaneously, set more fruit, and achieve high yields.

Effective fertilization techniques

The fertilization techniques for durian during the flowering and fruit-setting stage are vital, alongside watering, to ensure fruit yield and quality. Fertilization needs to be carried out correctly, with the right type and at the right time for optimal nutrient absorption by the plants. Below is a detailed guide on fertilization techniques for durian during this stage:

Fertilizing through leaves:

Fertilizing through leaves is a method of quickly providing nutrients to plants, especially effective during stages when plants require a lot of nutrients, such as flowering and fruit setting. It is essential to spray the fertilizer solution evenly over the entire surface of the leaves, preferably in the early morning or in the cool afternoon.

• Stage of washing crab eyes: Use a combination of Super Armor and Cofoli PK500. Super Armor helps enhance the plant's resistance, while Cofoli PK500 provides Potassium and Phosphorus, promoting the flower bud differentiation process.
• Stage of flower formation and shoot elongation: Spray Cofoli Calimagie, Cofoli Amino, and Cobio Root. Cofoli Calimagie supplements Calcium and Magnesium, helping to enhance the vitality of flowers and young leaves. Cofoli Amino provides essential amino acids for plant development. Cobio Root stimulates root development, helping the plant absorb nutrients better.
• Stage of leaf aging and supporting fruit setting: Use Co-Vil 110SC, Cofoli K300, and Cofoli Bor150. Co-Vil 110SC is a biological pesticide that helps control pests harming crops. Cofoli K300 provides Potassium, enhancing fruit setting ability. Cofoli Bor150 supplements Boron, helping to enhance pollination and fruit setting.

Soil fertilization:

Soil fertilization provides long-term nutrients for plants, helping them develop sustainably. Fertilization should be done when the soil is moist, after watering or after rain.

• Dose 1: Apply a mixture of Organiconco and NPK Con Co BASEOS 20-10-10+6S+0.045B. Organiconco provides organic matter, improving soil structure. NPK Con Co BASEOS supplies macronutrients, helping plants grow healthily.
• Dose 2: Apply NPK Con Cò 15-15-15+9S+0.05B and NPK Con Cerrorerror 7-7-14+12S+7Ca+0.045B. These two types of fertilizers provide balanced nutrients, meeting the needs of plants during flowering and fruit setting stages.
• Final fertilization: Apply Con Co KALIBO before the flowers shed their stigmas. This fertilizer provides Potassium, enhancing fruit setting ability and fruit quality.

General notes:

• The amount of fertilizer should be adjusted depending on the age of the tree, the variety of durian, soil conditions, and climate.
• It is advisable to consult agricultural experts for the most suitable fertilization plan.
• Always observe the condition of the plants to timely adjust the amount of fertilizer.

Combining foliar fertilization and soil fertilization, along with proper watering, will help durian trees grow well, flower uniformly, set many fruits, and ensure a high yield for a bountiful harvest.

Flower pruning technique

The flower pruning technique for durian during the flowering and fruit setting stages is an important step that helps the tree focus nutrients on fruit development, increasing yield and fruit quality. Here are detailed guidelines:

Timing for flower pruning:

• First pruning: When the flowers are in full bloom, remove the deformed flowers, small flowers, crowded flowers, and flowers in difficult positions for fruit setting (such as beneath the canopy or in overly dense areas).
• Second pruning: After the flowers have set immature fruits (about a week later), remove any deformed immature fruits, small fruits, crowded fruits, and fruits in difficult development positions. This stage helps eliminate low-quality fruits and concentrate nutrients on healthy ones.

Flower pruning techniques:

• Use specialized pruning scissors, sharp and sterilized to avoid spreading diseases.
• Cut the flowers/immature fruits close to the stem, avoiding damage to the flower branch/stem.
• Prune flowers/immature fruits in cool weather, avoiding pruning during intense sunlight or rain.

Principles of flower pruning:

• Remove weak flowers/immature fruits and keep healthy ones: Prioritize retaining flowers/immature fruits that are uniformly sized, healthy, and in advantageous positions.
• Thin out flowers/immature fruits: Avoid allowing flowers/immature fruits to grow too densely, creating conditions for pests to thrive and compete for nutrients.
• Remove flowers/immature fruits in unfavorable positions: Flowers/immature fruits growing in shaded areas, which struggle to receive sunlight, will have difficulty developing.

Note:

• Depending on the growth condition of the tree, the density of flowers, and the farming conditions, the number of flowers/young fruits to be thinned can be adjusted.
• Regularly observe the tree after thinning flowers to detect and promptly address any arising issues.
• Consult with agricultural experts or agronomists to develop the most suitable flower thinning plan for your durian garden.

Proper flower thinning techniques will help the durian tree focus its nutrients on nurturing the fruits, resulting in high yield, good fruit quality, and reducing the occurrence of fruit drop.

We hope the principles and techniques for flower thinning shared by Baconco above, combined with a reasonable care, fertilization, and watering regimen, will help farmers optimize both the yield and quality of the season, aiming for a bountiful harvest and high economic efficiency.