Cherry season in Russia: fruiting periods, reasons for the lack of flowers and fruits

Content

1 When the cherry blossoms bloom
2 What year do cherries bloom after planting?
3 For what year after planting do cherries bear fruit?
4 Why cherries don’t bear fruit: what to do
5 Conclusion

Cherry season starts quite early. This crop produces one of the earliest fruit trees.In the southern regions of the country, cherries begin to bear fruit at the end of May; by mid-July, fruiting ends almost everywhere.

When the cherry blossoms bloom

In order for cherry flowers to open, it is necessary that the ambient temperature be at least +10°C. In different regions, this temperature is set at different times.

Most often this happens in April, in the south - in the early days, in more northern regions - at the end of the month, and in case of unfavorable weather, even in early May.

When cherries ripen

In most regions of the country, you can taste freshly harvested berries in early June. This is especially true for early ripening varieties growing in warm regions; early table varieties ripen there already at the end of May. Most mid-ripening varieties bear fruit in June, and only the latest ones reach ripeness by mid-July.

When the early cherries ripen

Cherries that ripen in late May - early June are considered early. The early varieties include the following:

Valery Chkalov.
Melitopol early.
Early Mark.
Early Ruby.

Early varieties do not have good keeping quality and transportability. They are consumed fresh.

When do mid-ripening cherries ripen?

Mid-season varieties reach ripeness in the second half of June. These include:

Abigaro.
Guinea.
Dneprovka.
Drogana yellow.
French large-fruited.

Mid-season berries can be used both for fresh consumption and for home canning.

When do late cherries begin to bear fruit?

Late ripening cherries bear fruit at the end of July and until September. At this time, the following varieties ripen:

Napoleon.
Record holder.
Bryansk pink.
Regina.
Exhibition.
Tyutchevka.
Francis.

Late varieties have excellent taste, as well as increased shelf life and transportability.

It is also important that late varieties are the most frost-resistant, which allows them to be grown not only in the southern regions.

What year do cherries bloom after planting?

Flowering and subsequent fruiting of this plant greatly depends on the variety. The first flowers on a young tree may appear already 2-3 years after planting, but in most varieties they appear for the first time in 4-5 years. There are also varieties that begin to bloom only at 7-8, and sometimes even at 10 years of age.

For what year after planting do cherries bear fruit?

Cherry is a self-fertile plant, so without outside pollinators you may not get a harvest at all, unless by accident. If pollinating neighbors are available and bloom at the same time as the main variety, then the first harvest can be expected after the first flowering.

Why cherries don’t bear fruit: what to do

For fruiting to occur, cross-pollination of flowers with pollen from another tree must occur. If pollination does not occur, you need to look for the reason. And there may be several of them.

Assortment of cherries in the garden

When planting several cherries in the garden, it is important to consider their flowering and fruiting times. A prerequisite for pollination is a coincident flowering period. It may even partially coincide. For example, if you plant early and late varieties next to each other, they will not be able to pollinate each other simply because they bloom at different times. Let’s say that in the first ten days of May the late one has not yet bloomed, but the early one has already faded.

To prevent this from happening, a variety with adjacent flowering periods is planted nearby for pollination.If you plant early, mid-season and late varieties next to each other, there is a high probability that all three varieties will be pollinated normally. For example, varieties with an average ripening period Fatezh or Rechitsa can act as good pollinators for earlier varieties such as Iput or Ovstuzhenka, and can also be pollinated by them. In turn, they can become pollinators for late Revna or Tyutchevka.

Why cherry blossoms but does not bear fruit

Since cherries are one of the first to bloom among horticultural crops, they are at risk of return frosts like no other fruit tree. In this case, the flowers may simply freeze and not bear fruit. The presence of pollinating insects also influences fruit formation. In cold weather, the bees simply may not fly, and the tree will bloom without producing much fruit.

Do cherries bear fruit alone?

It happens that gardeners complain about the lack of space, due to which only one tree can be planted on the site. Under normal conditions it will not bear fruit, however, there is a way out of this situation. Even two:

If a neighbor has a cherry tree next to the fence, which roughly matches the flowering time and can become a pollinator.
Grafting onto a second grade tree, or better yet several.

The following technique can be used as an exceptional measure. To do this, you need to cut several branches from the crown of someone else’s flowering cherry tree and place them in a container with water, and place the container itself in the crown of your tree.

Do cherries need a pair to bear fruit?

Of course, the presence of a pollinator nearby is a necessary condition for obtaining a good harvest. This tree is a self-sterile plant and does not self-pollinate.The number of ovaries in such plants usually does not exceed 5% of the total number of flowers.

What to do if the cherry blossoms but does not bear fruit

If the cherry tree blooms profusely but does not bear fruit, the whole range of factors must be considered. First of all, this is the lack of pollinators. Therefore, you need to first solve this issue and choose a suitable pollinator variety for your tree.

Why cherries don’t bear fruit: an unpleasant neighborhood

Not all trees get along well with each other. For example, the walnut is an ardent antagonist and does not tolerate proximity to almost any fruit tree. Cherry is more moderate in this regard. However, the presence of neighbors does not always have a positive effect on its productivity. For example, the presence of another plant, such as an apple or pear tree, between two cherry trees greatly reduces its pollination rate.

Why cherries don't bloom

Cherry is a southern plant, so it should not be surprising that even zoned varieties do not always do well in cool climates. The weather in Russia is quite changeable, and spring is completely unpredictable; often in May there is snow even in the Central regions and the temperature drops to negative values. Naturally, all this does not have a positive effect on such a heat-loving plant.

If there is no flowering at all, it means that the tree does not lay flower buds or they are frozen. There can be many reasons for this.

What to do if cherries don’t bloom

The problem of lack of flowering caused by a lack of nutrients can be solved with the help of fertilizers. However, fertilizers applied to the soil should be treated with caution.An overfed tree will openly become fat, increasing the growth of shoots and green mass, but this will not add flowers.

Why cherries don’t bear fruit, and what to do

If pollinators are available and their flowering dates coincide, the reasons for the lack of harvest may be as follows:

Unsuitable variety. This problem is typical for varieties grown in the northern regions.
Lack of boron. The absence of this element in fertilizing leads to premature shedding of flowers.
Return frosts. Spring cold snaps can cause all flowers to completely fall off.
Fungal diseases. They can greatly weaken the tree, and sometimes even kill it. In order not to lose strength to fight the disease, the tree simply drops its flowers.

The reason why cherries do not bloom is the age of the tree

If the tree is quite old and has not been pruned for a long time, its flowering and fruiting may also be significantly reduced or stop altogether.

How to make cherries bloom

To bring a neglected tree back to life, you need to carry out rejuvenating pruning, growing new shoots to replace old ones. Rejuvenating pruning is done gradually; in one year, 25 to 30% of the old wood is cut out.

What to do if cherries do not bear fruit due to improper pruning

Sweet cherries are distinguished by their rapid growth rate of shoots. In one year, their length can be 0.8–1.2 m. Therefore, the consequences of improper pruning can be leveled out next year.

What to do to make cherries bear fruit well

The most important thing is the right choice of location and good care. It consists not only of timely, competent pruning, but also of watering and feeding the tree.

Why there are no berries on cherries: non-compliance with planting rules

A mistake with the place where the seedling is planted can lead to the fact that the tree will grow, but will not bloom or bear fruit. If the tree grows in the wrong place, then it is unlikely that anything will be done. For example, a tree growing in the shadow of a large building or in a place with a high groundwater level may never bloom. Therefore, it is so important from the very beginning to plant trees in areas suitable for the growth of this plant.

In addition to the above, the reason for the lack of fruits may be:

Acidic soil.
Incorrect planting of seedlings. When planting a seedling in the ground, its root collar should be 3–5 cm above ground level. When buried below this mark, the tree will shed its flowers over and over again.

How to make cherries bear fruit

Acidified soil must be deoxidized with dolomite flour or lime. The problem of improper landing or a mistake in choosing a seat can only be solved by transferring to another seat. However, if the plant is mature, replanting it will be quite difficult.

Why cherries don’t bloom: violation of care rules

Cherries may stop bearing fruit due to poor quality care. This may be a long absence of pruning, leading to severe thickening of the crown. Excessive watering will also negatively affect the condition of the tree, as it will lead to rotting of the roots.

What to do to make cherries bloom

To do this, it is necessary to carry out all agrotechnical care measures on time and in full. You also need to remember that excessive care (excessive watering, increased doses of fertilizers, heavy pruning) is more likely to harm the cherries than to help.

Why cherries don’t bear fruit well: pests

Cherries are often attacked by pests.The greatest danger of them is aphids.

A tree attacked by pests slows down its growth, sheds its leaves and prematurely drops unripe fruits.

What to do if cherries don’t bear fruit well

Trees are treated against pests with solutions of soap and ash. Sometimes infusions of herbs such as wormwood or celandine are used. Plantings can also be treated with chemicals such as Fufanon, Karbofos or Confidor.

Fungal diseases are the reason why cherries do not bear fruit

Fungal infections can also be one of the reasons for the lack of fruiting. In conditions of thickened crowns and high humidity, fungi develop especially quickly.

Control and prevention measures

To prevent the development of fungi, trees are sprayed with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture in early spring. Preventive inspections and sanitary pruning are also important, during which branches affected by the fungus are identified and cut out.

Conclusion

The cherry season is quite short. Most varieties bear fruit already in June, so spring tree care is very important. And under no circumstances should it be postponed. And if you follow all the care recommendations, you can grow this tasty and aromatic berry even in the northern regions.