Cherry is a wonderful fruit tree with delicious and juicy fruits. Many gardeners have recently deservedly given preference to it, compared with cherries. This is due to the fact that cherry trees have a whole group of serious diseases that nullify not only the harvest, but also plantings. Sweet cherries, especially new varieties, are more resistant to coccomycosis and moniliosis. There are institutes and nurseries involved, with the light hand of Michurin, in adapting southern varieties to the realities of central Russia. Many metropolitan summer residents are interested in planting cherries in the fall in the suburbs.
When and what do we plant?
Many gardening practitioners lean towards the traditional spring planting of stone fruit trees. Nevertheless, planting cherries in the fall is quite possible. The optimal disembarkation time depends on the specific climatic features of your region and the specific suburban area. In order for the planting of cherry seedlings in the fall to lead to a he althy and fruitful “result”, a number of recommendations regarding the variety, seedling and planting site must be followed. Through the efforts of domestic breeders, excellent varieties with highcold hardiness and disease resistance. For a cool climate, varieties such as Revna, Pervenets, Zorka, Black bitter, Narodnaya, etc. are optimal.
For a seedling, you should turn to reliable suppliers - a nursery with a good choice or a private trader with a serious reputation. When choosing an annual seedling, you need to pay attention to its roots. The ideal condition of the root system is a branched, fibrous growth of thin hairs and several strong roots. The further north the sweet cherry is planted, the more attention should be paid to the winter hardiness of the stock. In order for the planting of sweet cherry seedlings in the fall to be successful, they should not have leaves. Please also note that sweet cherries are self-fertile trees, so there must be at least one more variety in the garden, or other varieties of sweet cherries should be grafted onto a stronger seedling later. Planting sweet cherries in the fall in the Moscow region, on the one hand, increases the risk of death of the tree, on the other hand, it makes it possible to harden it and adapt it to the harsh conditions of our unstable climate.
How do we plant?
Since the sweet cherry is a very tall plant, a distance of about 4-6 meters from a neighboring tree should be provided. Cherry is extremely capricious and demanding on the soil. She needs a well-protected and well-lit place in the garden. It prefers well-drained, fertile soil. With a high level of groundwater, the tree suffers and dies. Planting cherries in the fall requires some preliminary preparation. The hole should be made in advance. It should be roomy, 60 cm deep and 60 cm wide. The soil in the pit should be enriched with humus. Atplanting, you need to dig a peg into the hole, to which then tie the seedling. In a seedling, it is worth removing damaged roots to he althy tissues. The tree is lowered into a hole and covered with earth. So the landing is over. Cherries require good moistening of the near-stem circle. A couple of buckets of water is enough. Cherry planting in autumn will be successful if the weak seedling is securely sheltered from frost, strong wind and spring sun.
How do we cut?
The best time for pruning is in the spring with steady warm weather. Autumn pruning due to freezing can cause bark cracking and infection of the tree. Due to the fact that the sweet cherry does not branch well, it is necessary to cut it off, otherwise in 5 years there will be a monster 10 meters high with long bare branches on the site. Shortening the branches is above the kidney. Crown type - sparse-tiered. This allows you to saturate the crown with air and light. In this case, all branches growing inward are removed. The correct cut of the branch is on the ring, without any stumps.
How do we water and fertilize?
The tree is very sensitive to watering. Approximate norms - 100 liters of water per 1 square meter of the trunk circle. After watering is completed, mulching is highly desirable, which maintains the desired moisture and looseness of the soil. Be sure to carry out winter watering to saturate the tree with moisture and normal wintering.
How do we care?
Cherry blossoms early, which means there is a high risk of flower damage during springfrosts. It is worth stocking up on smoke bombs in advance and carrying out protective smoke at a temperature of 1-2 degrees. It is also worth removing the basal shoots; aphid colonies often breed on it. After flowering, it is recommended to treat the tree with a 1% solution of Bordeaux mixture in order to combat monilial burn. In summer, all fallen unripe fruits should be collected and put into a compost heap. After the leaves have fallen in autumn, the tree must be prepared for the winter. The stem and main branches should be coated with a mixture of mullein, lime and clay, taken in equal proportions. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied under cherries only in spring, no later than May, in the amount of 20 g per 1 sq. meter. Autumn is the time for humus, 5 kg per 1 sq. meter. Planting sweet cherries will be more effective during the summer sowing of green manure: lupine, peas, and other legumes - in the near-stem circle. In autumn, they are mowed down and embedded in the soil as green manure. To prevent the development of diseases, carefully inspect tree trunks, branches, leaves and fruits. Affected branches are cut and removed from the site, the leaves are burned, and the tree is treated with copper oxychloride (40 g per 10 liters of water).
We looked at how cherries are planted in the fall. Of course, with proper and regular care, this culture can decorate the life of any gardener, enrich it with the delicate aroma of blooming flowers and saturate it with a feast of taste.
