Growing Cherries: The Complete Guide

Who doesn't love mommy's cherry pie? Or cherry on top of ice cream? Few things are as enjoyable as having your own cherry tree, from the dazzling spring blooms to being able to pick the succulent fresh fruit from the tree.

It's no wonder that the cherry tree has been cultivated for thousands of years, originated in Europe, and made its way to North America in the 1600s.

Growing cherries presents some challenges. For example, trees have a cooling requirement, you will also have to figure out how to fight birds and other creatures that love cherries as much as you do.

Then there are the diseases and the challenges of pollination.

Don't let these obstacles put you off. When it's time to pick up baskets full of ripe fruit from the tree, you'll be glad you made the effort. Read on to get started.

How to plant cherry trees

Plantation areas

Growing cherries need a cooling period of 800-1300 hours at temperatures between 32-55 ° F, so they do not do well in many southern areas.

On the other hand, cherries can also be sensitive to cold and do not do well in extreme northern regions with harsh winters.

In general, cherries grow in zones 5-8, with some varieties grown to survive the cold of zone 4 and others to cope with the heat of zone 9. It is essential to choose a type that will grow in your area.

Where to plant

Choosing the right location for cherry trees is also critical. More than apples or pears. One technique is to plant the cherry trees in the middle of the orchard so that they are protected from the surrounding trees.

Avoid planting your cherries in an ice pack or low location. Gentle slopes are ideal.

Cherries like to be near bodies of water (think Washington DC and its famous cherry trees). Cherries need full sun and good airflow.

Soil requirements

Plant cherries in the fall or early spring, when the soil is moist and soft. Plant young cherry trees in a protected area.

They need clay, sandy, and well-draining soil, with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. Cherries don't like wet feet, so dig a deep hole and fill it with a well-draining soil mix.

Spacing

Like most fruits, cherry trees come in standard, semi-dwarf, and dwarf sizes. Standard sweet cherries need 35 to 40 feet between trees.

Standard tart cherries need 20 to 20 feet of space between plants. Plant semi-dwarf trees 5 meters away and dwarf trees 10 meters away.

Nanking cherries are shrubs and can be planted six to eight feet apart.

Caring for the cherry trees

  • Shredded:

Cherry trees appreciate a natural covering of straw or bark. Keep the mulch six inches from the trunk.

  • Watering:

Growing cherries need an inch of water a week, so water them well if the weather is dry.

  • Fertilizer:

Fertilize the growing cherries each spring as the fruits begin to develop. Fertilize one more time after harvest.

It's best to test the soil before adding fertilizer, as too much can cause foliage growth at the expense of the fruit.

  • Pruning:

Nanking cherry plum cake when dormant in winter. Do a minimal pruning of sweet cherries in late summer.

Pruning gives the tree a lot of access to sunlight and helps prevent disease.

Cut suckers and new vertical branches with hand pruners on mature trees. Remove the crossed branches.

We hope you enjoy this video about how to grow cherry trees:

Source: MIgardener

Did you find this post Useful or Inspiring? Save THIS PIN to your GARDENING Board on Pinterest! :sonrojo:

[adinserter block="8"]

Once again, thank you for visiting our website!

We hope you've enjoyed exploring the content we've created for you.

Give yourself the chance to learn, get inspired, and have even more fun, keep browsing...

You may also like 👇🏼👇🏼

Go up

This site uses cookies: Read More!