Expert Advisory Details

Tip from Horticulture experts regarding horticulture operations

The deciduous fruit plants like pear, grapes and phalsa can be planted upto first fortnight of February before they start new growth. It is suitable time for layout, pit digging and filling for planting evergreen fruit plants. Citrus, mango, guava, loquat and ber being evergreen fruit plants should either be planted in late February when the weather warms up or in first fortnight of March, however, September-October is preferable season for their planting. Apply 960 g urea and 2750 g single superphosphate to full grown Kinnow plant and 880-1760g urea to other citrus plants according to size of plant. Apply 500 g urea/plant to loquat trees as first dose. Similarly, give 500 g urea and 1.0 kg muriate of potash/plant to mango and 800 g urea/plant to full grown litchi plants during this month. Apply 625 g/plant in a mixture of (urea, single superphosphate and muriate of potash (1:2:0.33) along with 20 kg of farm yard manure to papaya plants. To grapes apply 500 g of urea and 400 g of murate of potash/plant after pruning. Similarly, apply 500 g urea/plant to pear and 180 g urea/plant to plum. Irrigate citrus plants before initiation of new growth in February. Loquat trees which have already set their fruits, will need 1-2 irrigations. Ber trees should also be watered so that fruits can develop good size. To grapes, one irrigation should be given after pruning in the first fortnight of February. Grape prunning should be completed by mid-February. Remove dead wood properly in citrus before the new growth starts. Apply Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) immediately and apply Bordeaux paste to the cut surface and the trunk of the trees. Apply Bordeaux paint to the trunk after a week. The protective covers erected to protect the plants against possible frost injury should preferably be kept intact during this month. To control citrus psylla, spray 200 ml Crocodile/Confidor 17.8 SL (imidacloprid) or 160g Actara 25 WG (thiamethoxam) in 500 litres of water on spring flush before opening of the flowers. Give a spray of 50 g Streptocycline+25 g copper sulphate in 500 litres of water for the control of citrus canker. Bordeaux mixture (2:2:250) or copper oxychloride (0.3%) are the other alternatives. To check foot rot of citrus (gummosis) drench the affected trees with 25 g Curzate M-8 in 10 litres of water per tree. Application of sodium hypochlorite (5%) @ 50ml per tree in 10 litres of water can be done on the main trunk and on soil surface under the canopy of trees.  Mango hopper is usually very active during February-March. To check powdery mildew, give one spray with 0.1 % Karathane or 0.25 % wettable sulphur before flowering