Planting cherries

Planting cherries involves performing the same work as with any other fruit tree.However, each berry crop has its own varietal characteristics. This nuance must be taken into account when planting a tree in spring or summer if you want to get a good harvest in the future.

General rules for planting and caring for cherries in open ground

Fruiting of cherries depends on two important factors: proper planting of the seedling, as well as subsequent care of the tree in spring, summer and autumn. The choice of time of year for planting affects the further development of the crop. When planting crops in spring, summer or autumn, the climatic conditions of the region are taken into account.

To plant cherries correctly at any time of the year, adhere to the following basic rules:

• Choose a sunny place, protected from cold winds. It is best to land on the south side of the building. The culture prefers light soil and does not tolerate dense clay or the constant presence of water.
• Preparation before planting a tree begins with removing leaves. The rhizome is soaked for 8 hours in the Kornevin solution. Damaged branches and roots are trimmed with pruning shears.
• The soil is prepared at least 2 weeks before planting the tree. At 1 m² plot when digging the soil, scatter a bucket of compost, 1 tbsp. superphosphate and 5 tbsp. ash. The last ingredient can be replaced with half a glass of potassium salt.
• When planting a seedling in spring or summer, a hole is dug at least 80 cm deep. The hole can be up to 1 m wide. The size of the hole depends on the size of the roots. If a tree is planted with a closed root system, the bottom of the hole is simply leveled. For open roots, a mound is formed from soil at the bottom of the hole.
• When planting is carried out in heavy soil, two buckets of sand are poured into the bottom of the hole. If the soil is too loose, compact it with a bucket of clay.

When planting a tree in spring or summer, prepare nutritious soil. You should not overdo it with nitrogen fertilizers, as they burn young roots.

In the video, planting cherries in spring:

How to plant cherries

For a novice gardener, planting cherries in spring or summer is a whole science. Then the seedling still needs to be given proper care so that it takes root. Let us consider in detail all the nuances of the complex process.

Choosing the right variety

Planting a crop begins with choosing a variety. Many gardeners primarily pay attention to the color and size of the fruit, which is a serious mistake. Planting and caring for any variety involves the same activities. The problem is whether the crop adapts to the climatic conditions of the region.

The selection of a suitable variety for planting begins with consideration of the ripening time of the berries. Early cherries will provide the gardener with berries in the spring. Already at the end of May you will be able to taste delicious berries. Early varieties tolerate return frosts well, which simplifies crop care. The berries are full of sweet juice, the pulp is tender and tasty. The disadvantage is the poor tolerance of crop transportation. Worthy early representatives are the self-sterile varieties “Iput” and “Ovstuzhenka”.

Mid-season varieties begin to produce harvests at the beginning of summer. The berries usually begin to ripen in the second decade of June. Medium varieties do not withstand return frosts well, which complicates crop care in cold regions. The quality of the berries, when compared with early cherries, is much better. The harvest can be transported. Worthy representatives of medium varieties are “Annushka” and “Adeline”.

Late-ripening varieties produce a harvest in the summer, but more often in the last month.The berries ripen in late July - August. There are even frost-resistant late varieties that can produce a harvest at the end of August in cold regions. Worthy late-ripening representatives are “Vystavochnaya” and “Bryansk pink”.

It is possible to simplify the care and cultivation of cherries if the variety was correctly selected during planting, taking into account the climatic conditions of the region. By its origin, the culture is heat-loving. Most varieties of cherries are capricious and require complex care. The berry tree grows best in the south and in the Central Black Earth region. Gardeners living in the middle zone should choose adapted varieties for planting. “Gronkovaya” and “Large-fruited” show good results.

Special frost-resistant varieties have been bred for the Urals and Siberia. In addition to harsh winters, these regions often experience sudden temperature changes. Breeders took into account the peculiarities of the climate and developed resistant varieties such as “Bryanochka”, “Tyutchevka”, “Odrinka” and others.

When can you plant cherries?

Planting of seedlings is carried out in spring, summer and autumn. The choice of time of year depends on the climatic conditions of the region. In the south, gardeners recognize autumn planting as the best. Time is determined intuitively. Typically, planting in the fall is done 2-3 weeks before the first frost.

In cold regions, planting is carried out in spring or summer. The seedling will have time to take root before winter arrives.

Planting a tree can be done with an open or closed root system. There are no significant differences in the procedure. However, a seedling with a closed root system takes root faster and does not need to form an earthen mound at the bottom of the hole.

Where can you plant cherries?

The owner of a small plot needs to take into account that planting one tree will not get by. The crop needs a pollinator. If cherries do not grow in the neighboring area, then at least two trees will have to be planted in the yard. If varieties with a spreading crown are selected, then a distance of up to 5 m is maintained between them. Columnar cherries can be planted at a distance of up to 3 m from each other. It is not recommended to place trees closer, as care becomes more difficult, the branches begin to intertwine, and thickening is created.

The place for planting the seedling is chosen to be sunny, optimally on the south side of a high fence or building. The tree is kept at least 3 m away from the building. It is optimal to choose a hill in the area for planting. A lot of water from precipitation accumulates in the lowlands, which is detrimental to the berry crop. Planting should not be carried out on swampy soil and areas with high layers of groundwater.

Is it possible to plant cherries instead of cherries?

Fruit trees are divided into two genera: pome and stone fruit. Cherries are a stone fruit variety. All trees of the same genus consume the same nutrients from the ground. It is impossible to plant cherries in the place where, for example, cherries used to grow. These two trees will get along next door. A stone fruit tree can be planted in the place where the seed crop grew.

What can you plant next to cherries?

Despite its capriciousness and demanding care, the berry crop has a powerful root system that can suppress other plants.Planting apple trees, pears, and black currant bushes in the neighborhood is not advisable. Cherries and apricots do not get along very well. The cherry tree makes an excellent neighbor and can even become a pollinator if the flowering time coincides.

The crown of the cherry tree does not create an aggressive climate. The foliage partially transmits the sun's rays and raindrops. Under the crown you can plant primrose flowers, such as tulips or daffodils.

How to choose a cherry seedling

In order for planting cherry seedlings in spring, summer or autumn to be successful, it is important to initially choose healthy planting material. For planting, it is best to buy one- or two-year-old trees. Large seedlings take root less well. When choosing planting material, pay attention to the following nuances:

• For planting in spring or autumn, you can purchase seedlings with an open root system. It should be branched, not overdried, without rot or mechanical damage. Transport planting material by wrapping the roots with damp cloth or moss. Can be put in water. For summer planting, it is optimal to choose trees sold in a container with soil.
• For planting, choose a seedling with one well-developed trunk and a large number of side branches.
• There must be a graft on the trunk. You can recognize it by its ring-shaped growth.

It is better not to buy planting material more than 1 m high. After planting, such a tree will take root for a long time.

Is it possible to plant one cherry tree on a plot?

Even if the variety is partially self-fertile, at least two seedlings must be planted on the site. One seedling can be planted if there are nearby cherries or sweet cherries with the same flowering time. It is optimal to use three cherry seedlings of different varieties for planting.

Preparing the soil for planting

Regardless of whether planting occurs in summer, spring or autumn, the soil and planting hole are prepared in advance. The site preparation process involves digging up the soil and applying fertilizers.

At 1 m² required:

• 15 kg of compost or humus;
• 25 g potassium;
• 20 g phosphorus;
• lime is added at high acidity from 0.5 to 1 kg;
• for nutritious chernozem, all doses are halved, except phosphorus.

It is advisable that the chosen place for planting berry crops be left fallow for a year in the summer or spring.

How to plant cherries in spring: a step-by-step guide

Planting a seedling in spring is no different from the procedure performed in summer or autumn. The process consists of the following steps:

• If planting is done in the spring, then the hole is prepared in the fall, but first the site is taken care of. In an adult tree, the horizontal root system is buried down to 80 cm. Vertical roots grow to a depth of 2 m. To ensure that the horizontal root system has a good supply of oxygen, moisture and nutrients, the area is plowed. At this time, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied.
• A hole for planting a tree in the spring is dug 0.8 m deep and about 1 m wide.
• Add 2 buckets of sand to clay soil. When planting a seedling on sandy soil in the spring, add 1-2 buckets of clay.
• The pit is filled with 2 buckets of black soil, 3 buckets of compost, and 1 liter of ash is added. All ingredients are mixed.
• If a tree with an open root system is planted in the spring, a mound is formed from the soil at the bottom of the hole. The roots are evenly distributed along the slopes, covered with loose soil, and a wooden peg is installed for support. A seedling with a closed root system is placed on a flat bottom without a mound, filling the gaps with soil. There is no need to install a peg.
• The tree is watered with a bucket of water. After the soil settles, soil is added. A groove is formed around the trunk for irrigation. The tree trunk circle is covered with mulch.

When planting cherries in the spring, it is important to maintain the correct depth. The root collar should remain at ground level. If planted deeply, the roots will develop poorly, and if planted shallow, they will freeze in winter.

How to feed cherries after planting

Caring for the tree begins immediately after planting. If all minerals and organic matter were initially introduced, then additional feeding in spring and summer is not needed. It is introduced at 3-4 years of age. The next year, the young seedling begins to be fed with nitrogen-containing fertilizer.

Watering cherry seedlings after planting

Watering after planting in the spring is carried out as the soil dries until the seedling takes root. The culture does not like stagnation of water and here one must not overdo it with care. A rooted seedling is watered three times throughout the season, but abundantly. It is allowed to increase the amount of watering in dry summers.

How to replant cherries

The culture reacts poorly to transplantation. This is due to damage to the roots. Trees up to three years old can be replanted. This is done in early spring, when the sap has not yet begun to flow. However, the tree is prepared for the process in the fall.They dig up the cherry from all sides, trying to remove it with a lump of earth. The tree is laid horizontally on an elevated area and covered with earth. The pit is also prepared in the fall. It is filled with a mixture of humus and peat in a 1:1 ratio and 100 g of complex mineral fertilizer is added.

In the spring, a seedling stored in the ground is dug up. Damaged roots are removed with pruning shears. The cut areas are covered with ash. The tree is planted in early spring so that the root collar protrudes 6 cm above ground level. The transplanted cherry is watered with 5 buckets of water with dissolved heteroauxin in an amount of 10 ml. The tree trunk circle is mulched with humus. For better engraftment, the branches are shortened by a fifth of their length.

When replanting an older tree in the spring, they try to preserve the earthen ball as much as possible. An appropriate hole size is prepared for it. The transplanted berry crop is watered abundantly at least once every three days.

How to plant cherries with a closed root system

Planting seedlings with a closed root system has its great advantage - a high probability of survival. A tree with a lump of earth can be planted in spring, summer and autumn. The purchased seedling may not be planted immediately if there is no time. The planting material will live in a container with soil without requiring special care. You just need to water it periodically.

Planting cherries with a closed root system in spring

There is no clearly established time frame for planting a tree with closed roots. This can be done starting in early spring after the soil has warmed up. The tree can be even up to 4 years old. The process is no different from planting bare-rooted cherries, only there is no need to form a mound of soil at the bottom of the hole.A peg for support is also not needed. Planting material with a lump of earth is simply lowered into the prepared hole, covered with a fertile mixture, and watered.

Planting cherries with a closed root system in summer

Planting in summer is carried out on a cloudy day. It is better to choose the evening time of day. In summer, manure contains many larvae of harmful insects. When preparing a hole, the fertile mixture of chernozem with organic matter is watered with 10 liters of water, dissolving 2 ml of the Prestige preparation. If the summer is hot, the crown is shaded immediately after planting until the tree takes root.

Caring for cherries in the first year of planting

Basic care after planting in summer or spring consists of watering and removing weed. The soil is periodically loosened. To preserve moisture, the tree trunk area is mulched.

How to feed young cherries

Caring for the crop involves regular feeding. The seedling does not need them for the first year. Potassium and phosphorus were added during planting and will last for three years. Caring for a young tree, associated with feeding, begins in the second year. In early spring, after the frosts have gone, cherries are fertilized with urea. The solution is prepared from 1 bucket of water and 30 g of dry matter. From the fourth year of life, mineral complexes are used for feeding, alternating with organic matter.

How often to water cherry seedlings after planting

After planting in spring or summer, the main care of the seedling consists of watering. It is enough to do this once a week. Enough water is poured to wet a 40 cm thick layer of soil. The root system of the young tree is located in this place.

Cherry care: general principles

Caring for cherries throughout the growing season includes watering, fertilizing, mulching the soil around the tree trunk, treating them against pests, and forming the crown.

How to feed cherries in spring

The main care in spring is to feed the cherries with urea. Additionally, for the full development of the crown, nitroammophoska is added.

How to feed cherries in the spring before flowering

Before flowering begins, fertilizing is carried out with urea or ammonium nitrate. Caring for trees of different ages requires different rates of fertilizer, which is reflected in the table.

Fertilizing cherries during flowering

Blooming cherries in spring and summer require special care. Fertilizing is done twice with organic matter and mineral fertilizers. There is a 2 week interval between each procedure. The rules of care and feeding standards are shown in the table.

How to feed cherries after flowering

When the cherry blossoms do not stop fertilizing. Careful care is needed at this time, because the period of ovary and fruit filling begins. The tree is fertilized with 300 g of urea. Compost is used from organic matter. For mineral fertilizing, take 400 g of superphosphate and 300 g of potassium salt. At the age of 5 years, limestone is added to the root.

Cherry feeding in summer

Caring for cherries in the summer involves feeding them with nitroammophos in June. At the end of summer, superphosphate and ash are added along with watering. The proportions are shown in the table.

How to water cherries

Caring for cherries involves regular watering. The tree does not like waterlogging and stagnant water, but it responds well to moisture.

How often should you water cherries?

Despite the bad attitude towards stagnation of water, cherries love moisture. Caring for the crop requires three mandatory waterings:

• in spring in May during crown growth;
• in summer in June, when the fruits begin to ripen;
• in the fall before the onset of cold weather.

In dry summers, the frequency of watering is increased. Exactly as much water is poured under the tree as is needed to wet the soil to a depth of 40 cm. For convenient watering, a circular groove 30 cm deep is dug around the tree.

Watering cherries in spring

Caring for cherries should be in moderation. Experienced gardeners recommend watering in the spring after flowering. When the cherry tree is covered in color, it is not advisable to water it. Excess water may cause the ovary to fall off.

Watering cherries in summer

Caring for cherries in the summer begins with watering after flowering. If the summer is dry, the tree is watered in June. The next watering in summer occurs in July.

Watering cherries during fruit ripening

The ripening of berries of most early and middle varieties occurs in June. During this month of summer, one watering is carried out.

Is it possible to spray cherries during flowering?

Caring for a berry crop is not complete without the use of pest control measures. The best preparations for spraying cherries are “Skor” and “Chorus”. They can be used during the formation of buds and after flowering has ended. When the tree is covered with color, spraying is not performed.

Gardeners who like to provide special care to their cherries to obtain a large harvest spray them with a honey solution during flowering. The sweetness attracts bees, improving the pollination process.

Pruning and shaping the cherry crown

A special feature of caring for cherries, like any tree, is the formation of the crown.When planting in spring, summer or autumn, a young seedling is pruned so as to balance the above-ground and underground parts. 3-4 strong branches are left on the tree, shortening them by 1/3 of the length. The central trunk is cut so that its top is located 25 cm above the skeletal branches.

The video explains the rules cherry trimmings:

When forming the crown, pruning is carried out without leaving stumps. 3 branches are left on the lower tier, 2 on the second tier and one skeletal branch on the upper tier.

When the height of the tree reaches 3 m, the top is cut off. This allows growth to slow down. Caring for cherries up to five years of age is done without sanitary pruning. Next, remove damaged and improperly grown excess branches.

Mulching

If you fill the tree trunk area with mulch, caring for cherries is simplified: moisture evaporation is prevented and weed growth is reduced. For these purposes, straw or peat is used. Sawdust is not suitable as mulch, as there is a risk of increasing soil acidity. The mulch is poured more than 5 cm thick, and it should fit tightly to the cherry trunk.

Mistakes gardeners make when planting and growing cherries

Mistakes when caring for cherries will, at best, result in loss of harvest. In the worst case, crown growth will slow down, foliage, ovary and color will begin to fall off, and the tree will die. A list of common mistakes when caring for crops is shown in the table.

Conclusion

Planting cherries is not a complicated process. However, it is simply impossible to get a good harvest of berries without providing the crop with proper care.The tree will reward you for your efforts with tasty and healthy fruits, which are even used in folk medicine.

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