Tebu Lang, an American hybrid apricot plum, is characterized by its dark purple skin with occasional brown stripes. The fruit is oval in shape, with bright red pulp. It has a high soluble solids content of up to 22%, making it juicy and of excellent quality. On average, each fruit weighs about 109 grams, with the largest reaching up to 150 grams. Introduced from the United States in 2002, this variety is now widely cultivated in open fields and protected greenhouses. In the local area, it matures at the end of June, while in greenhouse conditions, it can be harvested as early as late April. After ripening, the fruit can remain on the tree for up to a month without losing quality. In the second year, it can yield up to 2,000 kg per mu. Locally known as "The Beauty of the Heart," it's highly valued for its economic benefits.
In Shouguang, conventional solar greenhouses are commonly used for cultivation. Trees are trained to grow at a 45-degree angle toward the west or south. For planting, 667 square meters of land should be enriched with 6,000–8,000 kg of well-decomposed manure or 3,000–4,000 kg of chicken manure. The planting distance is 0.75–1 meter between plants and 1.8–2 meters between rows, allowing 333–510 plants per 667 square meters. The planting trench should be 1 meter wide and 0.5 meters deep. Soil should be properly mixed, with topsoil and subsoil separated, and organic fertilizer and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer added before backfilling. The topsoil should be filled up to 20–30 cm above the root zone to prevent root burn. Seedlings should be planted shallowly, watered immediately after planting, and mulched after one or two days of infiltration.
In the first year, after seedlings sprout, rootstock buds should be removed, and only the most vigorous new shoot is retained as the main branch. Other shoots are allowed to grow up to 30 cm before being pruned to encourage early fruiting. Throughout the growing season, topping is avoided except for litchi to prevent excessive weak branches. When the tree reaches about 2 meters in height, small bamboo poles are inserted on either side of the trunk, and branches are tied horizontally to form a fan-like structure. This method helps maintain a balanced growth pattern and improves light exposure.
Flower-promoting technology plays a key role in Tebu Lang cultivation. The "pre-promotion and post-control" strategy is essential. During the early stage (before mid-July), all management focuses on promoting nutrient production and canopy expansion. From mid-July onward, the focus shifts to controlling vegetative growth and encouraging flower bud differentiation. Fertilization begins when new shoots reach 15–20 cm, alternating between underground dressing (40–50 g urea per plant) and foliar spray (0.3% urea, 0.4–0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate). Applications are made every 10–15 days for 2–3 times, combined with proper watering based on soil moisture.
In the second year, additional organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer are applied in mid-September. A total of 1,000 kg of decomposed chicken manure or 2,000–3,000 kg of manure, along with 50 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, is recommended per mu. Winter pruning involves removing upright, overlapping, and dense branches, while keeping the rest intact to promote natural hibernation and early fruiting. Greenhouse covers and grass mulch are used when temperatures drop below 10°C in late autumn, with vents opened at night to regulate temperature and avoid freezing damage.
Temperature and humidity control is crucial during germination, flowering, and fruit coloring. Germination requires a slow temperature rise, maintaining 12–18°C during the day and over 5°C at night, with humidity below 80%. Flowering needs a cool, dry environment: 18–20°C during the day, 7–10°C at night, and 50% humidity. Fruit enlargement and coloring require 20–25°C during the day and 10–15°C at night, with 60–70% humidity. Avoiding high temperatures and maintaining a temperature difference of no more than 15°C is important to prevent stress.
Pruning is done carefully to maintain tree vigor. Only the main branch is kept, slanted at 45 degrees, with all fruiting branches directly attached. Dense shoots are removed, and branches are straightened. Pruning should not occur within 20 days of harvest to avoid weakening the tree. If necessary, root pruning and fertilization are used instead. After 20 days, pruning is limited to remove oversized or crossing branches, ensuring balanced growth and strong flower bud formation.
Pest control follows pollution-free standards. Pesticides like imidacloprid, matrine, and streptomyces are used to manage aphids, spider mites, bacterial blight, and fungal diseases such as mildew and brown rot.
Author unit: Agricultural Bureau of Shouguang City, Shandong Province.
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