Pruning greenhouse nectarine trees before the warming season is an essential practice to ensure healthy growth and high-quality fruit production. The general principle involves selectively pruning long shoots without shortening them, allowing the main branches to develop naturally while maintaining a balanced structure. For young saplings planted in the same year, it is recommended to select 10 to 15 branches per plant initially, gradually increasing to 30 to 40 branches as the tree matures. The goal is to achieve even distribution of branches, ensuring they do not interfere with each other’s growth and maximizing light exposure.
During the pruning process, several types of branches should be removed. First, branches that produce few or no flowers should be cut back, as they not only reduce fruiting efficiency but also block internal light and compete with productive branches for nutrients and water. Second, any branches affected by pests or diseases must be removed to minimize disease spread and improve fruit quality and yield. Third, dense branches should be thinned out, especially those that overcrowd the result branches, to promote better air circulation and light penetration. Typically, stronger-growing branches are removed, leaving weaker ones to maintain balance.
Overly vigorous upper branches can negatively impact the tree in three key ways: first, they cause excessive shading, which hinders the growth and fruiting of lower branches; second, they lead to unstable branching and low fruit set; third, they create an imbalance in the tree’s growth, making the middle and lower parts underdeveloped and reducing overall yield and fruit quality.
Overlapping or competing branches should also be pruned, as they reduce the effective leaf area, lower fruit set, and disrupt the tree's growth balance. Additionally, fine, weak shoots at the base of the tree, which lack flower buds and have poor maturity, should be removed to improve air circulation and light access in the lower part of the tree.
When thinning, keep the following in mind: first, maintain a sparse upper canopy and a denser lower one to control growth strength and form a well-structured spindle shape. Second, retain secondary branches with strong maturity and high-quality flower buds to increase the fruiting area. Third, if the tree is not tall enough, choose a straight branch from the top to serve as the central leader, and use the middle section as an extension head. When the desired height is reached, pinch back the tip to encourage new growth. Finally, after pruning, apply a fungicide such as 5° Baum's lime sulfur, "9281" diluted 100–150 times, or Solibar 100–150 times to prevent bacterial infections.
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