LONGKONG PRODUCTION GUIDE

This kind of fruit can be grown in flat ground or rolling portion of the land. It is better if the soil is loamy or sandy. It should have a depth of 20 cm. It must be planted in an ideal distance of 6 x 6 meters. In a one hectare land it can be planted to about 280 trees.

When planting, the holes should have a depth enough to support the potted plant. During the planting, the upper level of the ball of soil containing the plant should be about 1-1/2 inch above the level of the soil surface. The soil at the base of the plant should be in the form of mound to prevent the accumulation of water at the base of the tree. Every tree should have an irrigation water supply. It is necessary during the dry season.

Use complete fertilizer 15-15-15 during his early stages of 4 years. Apply at the rate of 500 grams per tree during the first year; 1 kilo during the second year; 1.5 kilos in the 3rd year and 2 kilos in the fourth year. Divide the fertilizer into four split application and bury around the plants every three months. Supplement it with chemical fertilizer with organic fertilizer for greater result. you can split it 3 to 5 application.

In the fifth year when the trees are expected to bear fruit, you must apply fertilizer at the rate of in kilogram equivalent to the age of the tree. Twice a year, apply each tree with animal manure or chicken dung about 20 to 40 kilos.

Start pruning when the plants reach the height of 120-140 cm. Cut the terminal shoot to a height of 80-100 cm. The purpose is to induce the formation of four or more secondary stems within one meter from the ground. Bend the newly formed stems outward to ensure uniform spreading of the stem.

Maintain the height of the plants to 12 to 15 feet by top pruning. When the plants mature, prune it every after harvest to remove all the diseased portion and weak branches and shoots that grows almost parallel to the secondary stem. You have to top-pruned and maintain the height to 15 feet.

In flowering, thinning it should be done to maintain the quality of the fruits, particularly in its uniform size to prevent the development of diseases caused by overcrowded fruits. When the tree undergoes 20 or more days of water stress, if irrigated a lot of flowers will emerge at the main stem and at 2nd and 3rd branches. Flowers should be controlled. Not all should be allowed to develop into fruits.

The fruits are harvested when the fruits in the cluster almost mature from dull green to dull brown. Harvesting is done by carefully cutting the basal end of the stem of the cluster without damaging the stem or the branch.