Agrotechnical activities in the orchard in July

In July, the development of agricultural crops will proceed at temperatures above the climatic norms. Below-normal precipitation is forecast and the soil moisture deficit will deepen, necessitating the application of an appropriate irrigation regime for agricultural crops.

The forecast high maximum temperatures in July, above 38-40 ^oC, will disrupt the normal course of physiological processes in fruit crops.

During the first ten-day period, temperatures are expected to be 3-5 degrees below the climatic norm. Temperatures in the country will range between 28-32 °C. The likelihood of frequent precipitation in more areas of the country will increase, with higher amounts, thunderstorms and conditions for hailstorms. More rain is expected over the mountainous regions. The probability of precipitation is lower over the eastern regions. The tendency is for the weather to be unusually cooler for the beginning of the hottest month of the year.

During the second ten-day period of July, temperatures will rise and will be around and above the climatic norm. In the first days of the second ten-day period, the air mass over the country will remain unstable, and the probability of precipitation, thunderstorms and even hailstorms will increase. Temperatures will rise and will be between 30-35°C. 

During the third ten-day period of July, in a larger part of the country the probability of precipitation will be much lower. The probability of precipitation will be higher over the Danubian Plain and Southern Bulgaria. The weather will be sunny and hot. Temperatures above 35°C are expected. Towards the end of the month, the probability of sudden fires will also increase.

In fruit nurseries

Seedbeds are irrigated and cultivated regularly in order to ensure the highest possible percentage of standard rootstock material, and the mother plantations are irrigated and, if necessary, earthed up. To ensure conditions for good development of budded trees, in second-year nurseries green pruning is carried out if necessary. Regular cultivation and irrigation are performed, especially for pears.

In first-year nurseries, the grafting of rootstocks begins, and those that have not taken are budded again. About two weeks after budding, the ties are inspected. Those that have cut into the bark are loosened.

In fruit orchards

Work continues on bending the scaffold branches when forming palmette trees. Through irrigation, soil moisture is maintained above 70% of field capacity.

Using a disc harrow, cultivator, rotary tiller and rotary tiller with an offset section, the soil surface in the inter-rows and the row is kept cultivated and free of weeds, if the space between the plants is not grassed.

Harvesting of cherries and sour cherries continues.

The mass harvest of apricots and peaches begins

In strawberry plantations

Care for irrigating newly established strawberry plantations continues, especially for those planted in June.

In the lower and warmer regions, where fruit harvesting has been completed, the straw is collected, removed and burned.

Harvesting of fruit continues in higher and cooler sites. After the straw is removed, the plantations are irrigated and cultivated, after prior fertilization with 10-12 kg of ammonium nitrate per decare.

Mother plantations intended for seedling production are irrigated, fertilized with 15-20 kg of ammonium nitrate per decare and hoed. Runners in plantations from which no planting material is taken are cut out.

New areas for strawberry plantations are designated and prepared for autumn open-field planting. Before deep tillage, the area is fertilized with 2-4 t of farmyard manure, 60-80 kg of superphosphate and 20-30 kg of potassium sulfate per decare.

In raspberry plantations

Care for irrigating and cultivating the new plantations continues. Fruiting plantations are irrigated and cultivated. The irrigation rate is 50-60 dm³ per decare.

Mass harvesting of fruit is carried out.

Care is taken of mother raspberry plantations – irrigation and cultivation, in order to ensure the maximum quantity of planting material – suckers. The plantations are inspected, off-type plants of other varieties are removed, and old, fruited canes are cut out, collected and burned.

In blackcurrant plantations

Care for stool beds continues. The soil is irrigated and cultivated. In young and fruiting plantations, weed infestation is not allowed. The plantations are fertilized with nitrogen fertilizer (1/3 of the annual rate).

Mass harvesting of fruit is carried out. During harvesting, off-type plants of other varieties are marked for later uprooting, as well as diseased and weak plants. After harvesting, broken, underdeveloped and surplus shoots are removed.

In plantations with other crops

The desired fig varieties and forms for obtaining cuttings are marked.

Cuttings are obtained from actinidia (kiwifruit), bay laurel, chokeberry, sea buckthorn and pomegranate for rooting in a greenhouse with artificial mist.

The cuttings are prepared. The cuttings are treated with a solution of indolebutyric acid for 5 seconds. They are rooted in greenhouses with artificial mist in a substrate consisting of two parts perlite and one part peat.

Grafting of Caucasian persimmon rootstocks with Japanese persimmon and of actinidia seedlings with cultivated varieties begins. Tying of actinidia vines to the wire trellis continues. Summer pruning of actinidia is carried out. Jujube and pistachio are budded.

Fig fruits are harvested

Sea buckthorn – a little-known but promising fruit crop

Towards the end of the month, harvesting of sea buckthorn and chokeberry fruit begins.