LESSON 2

Elements to be observed in planting trees

and fruit-bearing trees

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this Lesson you will be able to:

1. Observe the proper care of plants and soil

2. Differentiate the methods of planting trees
3. Explain how to prepare seeds for planting
4. Discuss the process of seed germination
5. Discuss the preparation of seedlings before transplanting
6. Conduct survey on the elements to be observed in planting
trees and fruit bearing trees.
 Planting, just like cooking, requires systematic way of doing things. It

requires a step-by-step procedure on how to select and prepare the soil, the

seedlings, the tools, and the location for planting.

With these requirements, all that is needed is a thorough knowledge and

skill on how to do the planting process and the manner on how plants are to be

taken care of.

Elements to be observed in planting trees and fruit bearing trees

A. Proper Care of Plants and Soil

Proper care of plants and soil is necessary for a healthy and bountiful

harvest. Do the following:

1. Choose the best place for planting.

Trees and fruit trees require more space for growth than ornamental plants

or crops. This is because trees and fruit trees grow tall and wide . There are

trees that roots that expand sideward and those that move downward. Choose a

place where trees will grow freely without obstruction like street fences or walls.

Have enough space allowance between trees, or between the streets, fences, or

walls. Consider the type of soil and the amount of sunlight.

2. Choose the seeds that best suit the season and the soil.

This means that the seeds come from a good quality mother and the seeds

are healthy, mature, with no blemishes or cuts, and of the right size and form.

Seeds must be prepared before planting. Planting should be done preferably

during the rainy season. The soil must be suited to the type of seeds to be

planted. Consult an expert on what type of soil, or where do trees like acacia,

narra, mango, rambutan, or coconut grow best.

3. Put sufficient fertilizers in the soil.

It is advisable to prepare the soil before planting. This means cleaning the soil

and its surrounding area and mixing the soil with organic fertilizers. Organic

fertilizers are safe and economical to use, while inorganic or commercial

fertilizers have to be regulated because overuse can poison the soil. A rich soil is

40 percent clay loam, 30 percent compost, 20 percent dried carabao manure or

chicken dung, and 10 percent sand. Remember, plants need nitrogen,

phosphorus, and potassium to grow and to make them resistant to pests and

diseases.

4. Take care of the soil and the plants regularly.

Caring for the young trees means removing the grass and weeds around

them so they do not compete in getting the nutrients from the soil. Keep the soil

always moist and this is no problem during the rainy season. However, during

the dry months, there is aneed to water them regularly. Watering is done during

sunrise or after sunset to keep the evaporation of water from the soil slow. Make

a ring of cultivation around the young tree with the size matching the

circumference of the crown of the tree.

The soil in this ring is loose and slightly hilling up. In case of pests or insects

infestation, do this by building a fire and allowing the smoke to penetrate the

foliage. Use the appropriate pesticide or fungicide to control plant disease.

Consult an expert on this. Likewise, prune the young tree by cutting off infected
or unproductive branches. Do not leave excess branches on the trunk to avoid

infection which occurs when the cut has not healed.

B. Methods of Planting

Different trees are cultivated in different ways. There are two ways of

planting: direct and indirect. Direct planting is a method of planting where the

seeds or parts of a plant are directly planted in the soil where it will germinate

and grow into full-grown trees.

The use of high quality seeds results in high productivity. High quality

seeds have a high percentage of germination and correct moisture content and

are free from seed pests, diseases, and other physical impurities. They should

come from atree with a uniform height and heading, a characteristic known as

varietal purity. To maintain high quality seeds, the following steps are

recommended:

1. Remove off-type, diseased, and damaged seeds.

2. Label seeds properly.

3. Select and preserve only mature seeds and dry them under the sun

until proper moisture is attained.

C. Preparing Seeds for Planting

There are different ways of preparing seeds. One way is by placing the

seeds under the sun before planting. One example of this is the ipil-ipil tree.

Some seeds like the mango have to be removed from their hard shells before

planting. Seeds like santol need to be dried before planted in the soil. There are

also seeds that need to be soaked in water before planting, like the seeds of ipil-

ipil. Seeds of avocado are planted as is with the bigger end of the seed below the

soil surface.
 D. Seed Germination

Seeds need moisture, warmth, oxygen, and, in some instances, sunlight in

order to germinate. Small seeds are sown in a seed box before setting them out

in the field. Seeds can also be germinated in small plastic trays, pots, and other

relatively small containers filled with soil medium recommended for seed

propagation. The bottom of the seed boxes should have tiny holes to allow

drainage.

Before the seed is sown, the soil should be moistened with a fine spray of

water until the soil has absorbed enough moisture. Make rows with pointed

sticks. These rows should be twice as deep as the size of the seeds. Sow the

seeds evenly in rows and cover them with loose soil then press the soil gently. If

you will plant trees, the space should be 10 meters in distance depending on the

size of the tree.

The seed box should be kept in a shady place until the seeds have

sprouted. It should be protected from pests, animals, and adverse weather.

Cover the seed box with a sheet of paper to keep it from drying out too fast

during the dry season. When the seeds have sprouted, make sure they get

enough sunlight for proper growth.

E. Preparation of Seedlings Before Transplanting

Mortality is high during transplanting if the seedlings are not given proper care.

To ensure a higher rate of survival, the following processes are needed:

 1. Thinning – There are times when more seeds are sown than necessary.

To produce strong plants, pull out some crowded seedlings so that the

remaining plants will have more room. Thinning accelerates the circulation

of air and provides a greater feeding area for seedlings to make them

sturdier and healthier.

2. Pricking – This is done by transferring seedlings from one seed box to

another to provide more space for proper development. Water the

seedlings before pricking.

3. Hardening – This process is done 7 to 15 days before transplanting. The

purpose is to make the tissue of the plants harder in order to survive the

rigors of transplanting. The water intake of the plant is gradually decreased

and the seedling is exposed to sunlight for a longer period of time.

F. Indirect Planting

In indirect planting, the plant needs to be transferred to its permanent

place. This is commonly done with trees. Nowadays, you can avail seedlings

planted in small plastic bags, ready for transfer.

Follow the general steps in the proper transferring of plants:

1. Place the seedlings away from

direct sunlight. Make sure the

seedlings are healthy and fresh

before planting.
2. Dig the area where you want to

plant them. The length and depth

of the hole should be according

to how big the tree will become.

Leave two inches allowance in

the length and depth of the hole

to allow the new roots to breath.

For big trees like santol, mango, or acasia, the hole is one meter wide,

one meter deep, and one meter long. For small trees like atis, chico,

avocado, and kasoy, the hole should measure 20 inches deep, 20 inches

wide, and 20 inches long

3. Remove the plant from the plastic

bag. Do not remove the soil which

holds the roots.

4. Slowly and carefully place the

seedlings in the hole. Make sure

the main roots are not bent.

5. Cover it with soil. Lightly press

the soil.
 6. Water the new plant early the next morning. Use a water sprinkler. It is

important to water the soil that surrounds the plant.

7. Remember: Plant your seedlings

in the afternoon when sunlight is

no longer hot to avoid withering.

Sources of fruit-bearing trees

Fruit-bearing trees are available and sold in different stages of growth and ready

to be transplanted. Among their sources are:

 Commercial Nursery – Run by private individuals usually offering

landscaping materials and services.

 Agricultural Institution – A school that offers a course related to agriculture

and other plant studies.

 Department of Agriculture – Responsible for any agricultural activities in

terms of vegetables and fruits .

 Bureau of Plant Industry – They develop scientific improvement for each

plant specie in a locality and adjacent places.

Famous Orchard Farms in the Philippines

Rosa Farms, Zambales, Philippines

Rosa Farms is a 12.5 hectare mango orchard in the coastal province of

Zambales, home of the Philippine Carabao Mango. The farm has 888 mango

trees nurtured for years. The farm is open to walk-in guests who want to

experience the ambiance of areal functional farm.

Kitsie’s Farm, Zambales, Philippines

Kitsie’s Farm has dozens of fruit-bearing mango trees scattered across its

15 hectares land with each tree yielding at least 200 kilos each.

Gapuz Grapes Farm, Bauang, La Union

Gapuz Farm has been in business for 30 years. The Gapuz brothers

learned the ins and outs of grapes growing in California.

Banana Farm, Davao Region

Banana is the leading fruit grown in the Philippines and a consistent top dollar

earner.

Davao Golden Pomelo Farm, Davao City

Carmelita Mercado is the top pomelo producer and distributor in the

Philippines.Thefarmhas 350 hectares of sweet pink flesh pomelo.

Nica’sRambutan Farm, Barangay Lapaz, Tibiao, Antique

The rambutan tree belongs to a group of fruit bearing tropical trees like

longgan and lychee. The name rambutan came from an Indonesian name

“rambut” which means hair.

Reference: Learning and Living in the 21 st Century 6