(Baonghean.vn) - Four-season lemon is a variety that can grow strongly and bear fruit in the first year. Four-season lemonlarge, very fruitful, and juicy,for year-round harvest, especially during Tet holiday. The time for four-season lemon tree to produce high yield fruit is from 15 to 20 years.

1. Planting season:

- The best planting season is during the rainy season so that the plants grow well and reduce initial watering costs.

- In the North, it is grown in two main crops: spring and autumn.

- Central and Southern regions can plant in spring, late dry season, early rainy season.

Mr. Ho Xuan Trung in village 10, Tuong Son commune takes care of the four-season lemon tree.

2.Type of arable land:

- Lemons can be grown on many different types of soil, but the best is loose, humus-rich loam. Lemons do not tolerate waterlogging and salinity, so canals or raised beds need to be dug to drain water.

3. Prepare the soil:

- The hole is dug 1-2 months before planting. The size of the hole is 0.6 x 0.6 x 0.6m. Fertilize the hole first: 10-15 kg of decomposed manure; 0.5 kg of phosphate fertilizer; 0.1 kg of potassium; 1-1.5 kg of lime powder. Mix the fertilizer with the soil, use a hoe to break the hole, then spread lime on the surface of the hole and cover it with a thin layer of soil. Next, pump water into the hole, and it can be planted after about 10-15 days.

4. Planting distance:

- Depending on soil fertility and lighting, arrange the planting density from 2mx2m to 4mx4m.

5. How to plant:

- Gently squeeze the pot to loosen it a bit, then tear the plastic to keep the entire root system. Depending on the variety, it is grafted or cut. But after planting, the main stem must be upright.

Lemon growers can cover the tree with plastic to keep it moist and prevent drought.

6. Care:

- Limit light: In the beginning, we can interplant legumes in the garden to limit storms, falling and blocking light.

- Keep moist: Cover the base of the tree in the dry season to reduce watering costs. In the garden, the grass should be 20-40cm high to limit the heat in the dry season and prevent erosion or increase drainage in the soil in the rainy season.

- Watering: Provide water to the plant regularly. If you want the plant to flower, stop watering until the roots dry for 20-30 days. Then water again and the plant will flower.

- Pruning: Limit excess branches, remove old, diseased branches, help the tree to be airy, have a beautiful shape, increase photosynthesis and develop the tree to be balanced enough to bear fruit.

7. Fertilization process:

- Top dressing: Varies depending on soil properties and yield.

* Fertilize with 20-30 kg of manure + 1-2 kg of ash/hole/year (fertilize 1-2 times/year).

Chemical fertilizers are used on average as follows (for each tree):
* First year: 0.5-1.0kg nitrogen sulfate (if using urea, apply 0.25-0.5kg) + 0.3-0.5kg NPK

* Second year: 1.0-2.0kg nitrogen sulfate (if using urea, apply 0.5-1.0kg) + 0.3-0.5kg NPK.

* Third year onwards: 2.0-2.4 kg of nitrogen sulfate (if using urea, apply 1.0-1.2 kg) + 0.5 kg of NPK + 1 kg of lime. Due to scattered fruit harvest, divide the fertilizer into 4-5 times/year.

8. Create off-season fruit:

- Can produce fruit out of season by tightening water. Stop watering, fertilizing, limit the supply of nutrients to the plant for about 3 - 4 weeks, then fertilize and water again, the plant will respond and produce fruit earlier than usual.

9. Pest and disease control

- Leaf miner: Causes frequent damage during the young leaf stage, use systemic insecticides such as: Sevin 80WP, Padan 95SP, Cymbush, Lanate.

- Aphids: Sucking sap on young shoots or the underside of young leaves, use drugs: Basan 50ND, Supracide 40EC, Polytrin 40EC, Trebon 10ND.

- Red spider: Larvae and adults are harmful. Use drugs: Confidor, Kelthane, Danitol.

- Root rot - gummosis: The disease causes a lot of damage to the rhizome, use drugs to prevent and treat such as: Captan 75 BHN, aliet 80 BHN, Coper Zine.
- Green vein yellowing disease: To limit the disease, guava should be intercropped with a density of 2 rows of oranges and 1 row of guava.

Remember to whitewash twice a year to prevent stem borers and spray pesticides right after new shoots appear to kill leafminers.

10. Harvest

Harvesting is possible about 4 months after the flowers bloom. Harvest when the fruit has a tight, shiny skin. Harvest gently to avoid falling leaves and breaking branches.

Harvesting should be done when the weather is cool, not after rain or heavy fog because the fruit can easily rot when stored. After harvesting, keep the lemons in a cool area, 10-15cm above the floor.

Xuanzang - Thai Hien