Basic care for durian

The basic construction phase determines the framework and longevity of the durian orchard. Instructions for watering, shading, light fertilizing, creating a canopy, preventing root rot and not letting the tree bear fruit early in the first 3-4 years.

Summary: The first three years of durian growing are not a period of "waiting for the tree to grow" but a period of building a orchard framework. If cared for incorrectly, the tree may still survive but has weak roots, a bent trunk, a lopsided canopy, can easily rot at the base, and be slow in business. This article provides basic instructions for durian tree care based on four main things: water, roots, nutrition and canopy formation.

Applies to: Newly planted durians before business, usually 1-4 years old depending on variety and orchard conditions.
Duration: From planting until the tree has enough framework to enter fruit processing.
Difficulty level: Basic but requires steady hands.
Estimated additional costs: 20-60 million VND per hectare per year for irrigation, fertilizer, sun shading, pruning and disease prevention.

Construction phase goals

The goal is not to produce fruit early, but to:

The tree survives well after planting.
The hairy root system develops widely.
The main body is straight, the canopy is balanced.
Level 1 branches are evenly distributed, not too low.
The root collar is dry and does not leak pus.
The tree has a full set of leaves before going into business.

Trees that bear fruit prematurely when the framework is not strong enough often cause slow growth and later failure.

Water

Durian needs to be evenly moist but afraid of waterlogging:

Water lightly and regularly during the dry season.
Do not let the tissue dry out and become deeply cracked.
Do not let water stagnate around the root collar.
Cover the roots with clean materials, leaving 15-20 centimeters of root collar.

After heavy rain, check the ditches and ditches. Small trees die from waterlogging often faster than from lack of water.

Sunshade and windproof

In the first 1-2 years:

Temporary sunshade in areas with strong sunlight and strong winds.
Reduce shading gradually when the tree has stabilized leaf production.
Plant windbreaks or temporary shade trees if the orchard is empty.
Do not let shade trees compete too strongly for water.

Young durian leaves are easily sunburned. But covering it too tightly makes the tree's growth weak and its trunk soft.

Fertilize

Principle:

Fertilize little but often.
Priority is organic matter, balanced fertilizer, microbiology.
Do not spread fertilizer close to the root.
Fertilize when the soil is moist enough.
Do not push nitrogen too hard to make the plants sprout soft buds.

In the first year, the roots are still small, strong fertilizer can easily burn the roots. From the second year onwards, it gradually increases according to the canopy and tree strength.

Create canopy

Creating a canopy early helps the tree have a good framework:

Keep a strong main stem.
A type of shoot that grows low close to the base.
Keep level 1 branches evenly distributed around the trunk.
Remove branches growing into the canopy and overlapping branches.
Do not prune too hard as this will cause the tree to lose leaves.

The goal is a tower-shaped canopy that allows light to enter but still has enough leaves to feed the plants.

Prevent root rot and pus leak

Small trees are very sensitive to root diseases:

Keep the root collar high and dry.
Do not store materials close to the body.
Do not hoe to scratch the root collar.
Fertilize at the base, along the edge of the canopy.
Check for leaks and cracked shells after rain.

If you see yellow leaves, wilted leaves, or dark roots, you need to deal with them early. Don't wait for a severe leak to treat it.

Does not bear fruit prematurely

Some trees can flower when they are only 3-4 years old. You should not keep the fruit if:

The canopy is not wide enough.
Level 1 trunk and branches are still small.
Sparse set of leaves.
The tree has just survived a disease or drought.

Keeping a few fruits for "luck" can slow the tree's growth for the next year. Commercial orchards need framework first, productivity later.

Monitor periodically

[ ] Survival rate after planting.
[ ] Tree height and trunk diameter.
[ ] Number of healthy level 1 branches.
[ ] Condition of roots, root collar, pus leakage.
[ ] Are there any pests or diseases in the new batch of leaves?
[ ] Number of trees to be replanted.

Record each plot to know which areas have bad soil, poor drainage or weak seedlings.

Common mistakes

Strong fertilization to help plants grow quickly: plants produce soft buds, weak roots, and are susceptible to disease.

Keeping the root close to the trunk: keeps the root neck moist, increases pus leakage.

Not creating a canopy early: the tree is out of frame, making it difficult to fix later.

Let the tree bear fruit early: slow development of the skeleton.

Not replanting early: the orchard is different in age, difficult to manage later.