How to deal with grape fruit drop

Grape fruit drop can be treated by pruning branches, adjusting water and fertilizer, preventing and controlling diseases and pests, improving lighting, and artificial pollination. Grape fruit drop is usually caused by insufficient nutrition, water imbalance, invasion of pests and diseases, insufficient light, or poor pollination.

1. Pruning Branches

Grape fruit drop may be related to overly dense branches, and weak, diseased, and overly dense branches need to be pruned in a timely manner. Retain robust fruiting branches, reduce nutrient consumption, and promote fruit development. When pruning, pay attention to the reasonable distribution of the main vine and side branches to avoid wound infection. After pruning, apply a disinfectant to the wound.

2. Adjusting Water and Fertilizer

Grape fruit drop is often caused by uneven water and nutrient supply. During the flowering period to the young fruit stage, it is necessary to keep the soil moist but avoid waterlogging. Increasing the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can help stabilize the fruit. Avoid excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer, otherwise it will promote excessive growth of branches and leaves and exacerbate fruit drop. Spraying boron fertilizer or calcium fertilizer on the leaves can improve fruit setting rate.

3. Prevention and control of pests and diseases

Anthrax, gray mold, thrips and other pests and diseases can directly lead to grape fruit drop. In the early stages of the disease, spraying azoxystrobin or pyraclostrobin can be used to control fungal diseases, and thiamethoxam can be used to control pests. Timely clean diseased fruits and leaves to reduce residual pathogens. During the rainy season, it is necessary to strengthen ventilation and drainage to reduce the probability of disease occurrence.

4. Improving Light

Insufficient light can affect grape photosynthesis, leading to poor fruit development and shedding. Reasonable scaffolding can be used to evenly distribute branches and leaves, and old leaves that obstruct the fruit ears can be removed. Facility cultivation requires regular cleaning of the greenhouse film to ensure sufficient direct sunlight every day. Avoid excessive shading, especially ensuring sufficient light during the fruiting period.

5. Artificial pollination

Poor pollination is a common cause of grape fruit drop, especially for varieties grown in greenhouses. You can use a soft bristled brush to lightly sweep flowers to assist pollination, or release bees during the peak flowering period. Choose self pollinating varieties or plant with pollinating trees. Protective measures should be taken during strong winds or rainy days to prevent pollen from being washed away or blown away by the wind.

The treatment of grape drop should be comprehensively implemented based on the actual situation of the orchard. Regularly check the growth of plants on a daily basis, keep the shelf surface ventilated and transparent, and pay attention to drainage and flood prevention during the rainy season. During the period of fruit enlargement, organic fertilizer can be applied to improve the soil, avoiding the use of hormone fruit preservatives. If the fruit drop is severe and accompanied by large-scale leaf abnormalities, it is recommended to contact agricultural technicians to investigate potential issues such as viral diseases. Proper water control before harvesting can help improve fruit quality and firmness.