{"id":11721,"date":"2022-06-29T10:41:06","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T10:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=11721"},"modified":"2023-04-28T17:15:14","modified_gmt":"2023-04-28T17:15:14","slug":"how-to-take-care-of-a-jujube-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-take-care-of-a-jujube-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Take Care Of A Jujube Tree?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jujube trees are easy to grow fruit trees originating in China. They are hardy and need only a minimal amount of care once established. The fruits are delicious fresh off the tree or dried when they become similar to dates, which is why they are often called Chinese Dates<\/em>. Read on to discover how to take care of a Jujube tree of your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do You Look After Jujube Trees?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Jujube trees love heat and well-drained soil. For optimum fruit set<\/a>, they should receive full sun and temperatures above 86\u00b0F when flowering. Cross-pollination will also produce larger, more abundant fruits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soil type<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although Jujube trees grow best in well-drained, humus rich, slightly sandy soil, they are very tolerant, and providing the ground doesn\u2019t stay waterlogged, they will generally do well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

pH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Jujubes like their soil slightly acidic, around 5.5 to 6.5 on the pH scale. Again, they will tolerate a pH a little out of these ranges without much problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improving the soil<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To improve the soil before planting your jujube tree, mix it with 50% mature compost or well rotted manure and ensure you blend it well in. Don\u2019t add any chemical fertilizers. Clean sand at a rate of 10% can also be added unless your soil is heavy clay or is already sandy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When planting<\/a>, be careful not to bury the root ball too deep, and that the uppermost roots are positioned just below the soil. Try not to disturb the root ball too much as this can cause shock to the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you put the soil mixture back in the hole, be sure to eliminate any air pockets around the roots and tamp the soil down gently as you go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Water well and create a water basin of 36 inches diameter around the young tree to help retain the moisture near the roots while the tree is young and growing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Water the tree twice weekly except in winter, depending on weather conditions. It\u2019s best to ensure the soil isn\u2019t too wet before re-watering. If it is, wait a couple of days anc check again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can water the tree less once it has become well established with a deep root system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mulching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In spring, add a four to six-inch layer of organic mulch around the tree, leaving a 3-inch gap from the trunk. This is to allow air to penetrate and prevent mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The mulch used can be straw, aged wood chippings, grass clippings or other organic matter. It will help keep the roots protected from the heat, retain moisture and suppress weeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fertilizer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can add a 10:10:10 fertilizer in early spring if desired, but this isn\u2019t usually necessary unless the soil is very poor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pruning<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pruning will be required<\/a> to keep the tree healthy, growing in a good shape, and from becoming too tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Water A Jujube Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Although once established jujube trees are highly drought-tolerant, they do require careful watering when young. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your soil type, water deeply twice a week in well-drained soil or once a week if you have clay soil. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To deep water effectively, you need a very gentle water pressure and for the water to run for 40 to 50 minutes around the base of the tree. Slow and steady is what\u2019s needed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adjust the frequency of watering according to weather conditions. Always check to see how moist the soil is before watering, as overwatering or underwatering can affect the tree’s health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To test the soil, make a small hole with your forefinger and feel how wet the ground is. It should be just damp but not wet to the touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Water Does A Jujube Tree Need?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For best growth and prolific fruit production, Jujube requires a minimum of one inch of water per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If insufficient water is given, then the fruit will likely drop from the tree prematurely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equally, over watering can cause the roots to start rotting and cause the leaves to fall off and the tree to die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Fertilizer For A Jujube Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jujube trees don\u2019t require a lot by way of fertilizer, particularly once they are well established. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their early years, the addition of some organic fertilizer by way of regular mulching with well-rotted compost or manure applied in early spring and midsummer can be beneficial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the soil in your area is especially poor, you may opt to give chemical fertilizers too. Check that these contain not just nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus but also zinc, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, molybdenum, and boron, as these are also needed by the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will find that additional minerals are generally included in a high-quality fruit tree fertilizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slow-release fertilizers are best. These are usually in the form of granules or sticks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the application rate as shown on the packaging and apply annually in early spring. Again if the soil is very sandy with few nutrients you can also apply them in early summer, and mid-summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t apply any fertilizer after the end of July, as this can cause new growth that will be killed off when winter sets in, particularly in colder climates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Herbicides To Use On A Jujube Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When a fruit tree is young, it requires extra help to ensure it can grow big and strong. Ensuring that competing weeds don\u2019t grow around the base of the tree and take up valuable nutrients and water from the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can seem like a good idea to use a herbicide to kill any weeds that take up residence, but the problem with herbicides is that they can kill more than the weeds; they can kill or at least severely damage your young tree too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Weeds Are Not Good For Your Young Jujube Tree<\/h3>\n\n\n\n