How to grow cherries: what kind of soil do you like, when and where to plant, distance

Many beginner gardeners are frustrated by the experience of planting cherries. Having paid a significant amount for a unique variety, after a while they sadly observe the death of the fruit tree. There can be many reasons for this situation, ranging from the wrong place to the violation of the rules of cultivation. To avoid such a development of events, it is important to know how to grow cherries and what rules must be followed.

Correct fit

The rules for planting cherries on the site are largely determined by the belonging of the tree to a particular variety.Most often, Russian gardeners choose an ordinary species for these purposes because of the versatility of using its fruits, suitable for eating fresh, making compotes, jams, juices and sweet products.

For the successful cultivation of cherries, it is necessary to take into account the climate of the region and select a variety whose breeding qualities correspond to its conditions. In areas with a cold climate, only winter-hardy types of cherries can withstand difficult growing conditions.

It is important to determine when to plant cherries. The recommended time for planting a tree is spring and autumn.

When buying a seedling in the spring, the parameters are important, the bole of a two-year-old tree 60 cm high and 2.5 cm in diameter is considered optimal. Planting is carried out when the soil warms up, and the bud break period has not yet begun.

Where to plant cherries:

• Soil should be neutral acid, sandy, loamy soil needs drainage;
• lowlands, areas with a damp climate are not suitable, cherry loves lit, sunny places;
• groundwater level should be more than 1.5 m;
• the place should be protected from gusty winds.

When asked whether and how to grow cherries in acidic soils, experienced gardeners will answer in the affirmative. Lowering the performance and bringing them back to normal will allow processing with lime or dolomite flour. For 1 m² of soil, 400 g of the product is applied and digging it to a depth into the bayonet of a shovel. After that, after some time, organic fertilizers are applied, which are used as compost or manure for 1 m 3 ^{2 15 kg.}

The distance between cherries should be at least 3 m. When planting a cross-pollinated variety, it is important to consider the likelihood of pollination. In this case, 4 types of cherries are taken and planted taking into account the scheme of 2.5 x 3 m for tall trees and 2.5 x 2 for undersized ones.Some gardeners prefer to plant trees in a checkerboard pattern.

A hole for planting cherries is formed with a diameter of 80 cm, a depth of 50-60 cm. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers and lime are not added to the hole, otherwise the root system may be damaged. It is permissible to add ash, potassium chloride and superphosphate to it. The root system of the cherry must be he althy, damaged and dried shoots are removed.

A wooden peg is driven into the center of the recess to facilitate the planting process. The seedling is buried, evenly distributing its root part. The neck should be 4 cm above the soil surface so that the seedling does not rot in the future. The roots are sprinkled with earth and form a small roller of soil around the tree for better moisture retention. 10 liters of water are poured into the hole, after which the soil is mulched with humus or peat. For better protection, the seedling is provided with an additional point of support by carefully tying it to a peg.

If you purchase a seedling in autumn, you need to dig it in before spring. The recommended time for work is October, before the threat of frost should be from 20 to 30 days. The following requirements are imposed on the height of the seedling:

• annual - up to 80 cm;
• biennial - up to 110 cm.

The root system of young shoots must be well formed and the wood must be mature. Before planting, dig a hole with a depth of 40 cm and a slope of 45 ^{The roots are placed in a recess and watered abundantly. The tree is insulated with spruce twigs, and in winter it is buried with snow. Immediately before planting, the tree is dug up for further rooting in the place of permanent cultivation.}

Care

Cherry is undemanding to care, the main actions are related to the implementation of irrigation, fertilization and periodic loosening.

Irrigation

The first watering is carried out after flowering, which helps the berries to fill with juice. The sufficiency of moisture intake is determined by how much the soil is saturated with water The optimal depth is from 45 to 55 cm. In the future, the need for irrigation is determined based on the sufficiency of natural precipitation.

Feeding

Fertilization is recommended at the moment when the cherry begins to form berries. Their norm depends on the condition of the seedling and its age characteristics. Compost or humus can be used as additives. In autumn, the soil should be enriched with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium. With a lack of nitrogen in the soil, the deficiency is replenished in the spring.

The first feeding is carried out immediately at the end of flowering. The process is repeated after 14 days. For young seedlings, it is enough to add fertilizer to the circle near the trunk. A good effect with increased acidity of the soil is the introduction of ash.

Cutting

A distinctive feature of the cherry is the rapid increase in the number of branches. As a result, the crown is able to grow and greatly increase in size, the formation of many processes leads to thickening. In the absence of measures to trim the plant, there is a problem of crushing berries and reducing the number of bouquet branches on which fruits are formed. The result is a decrease in yield and a deterioration in the quality of cherries.

Branches with a shoot length of more than 50 cm are subject to pruning. The procedure is recommended in early spring, 3 weeks before the buds begin to swell. The first work on the formation of the crown is required to be carried out after planting. With a seedling height of 40 cm, you can begin to form a crown shape, while removing excess branches and shoots.

On a tree with a height of slightly more than 40 cm, on average, 7 main branches are left as the basis of the skeleton.The processes should be evenly spaced, 3 branches are enough on the lower tier, 2 on the second, and 1 on the third. In the process of growing cherries, an average of 10 branches should remain. All processes that point inward must be removed.

For the successful cultivation of cherries, it is important to prevent the spread of shoots in the garden. Excessive growth of young shoots leads to a weakening of the plant and can lead to the death of the tree. To eliminate this, it is required to cut off the shoots in a timely manner at a distance of 30 cm from the level of the soil surface. Effectively digging into the ground at a distance of 1.5 m of a barrier made of slate, plastic or other material that can limit the spread of overgrowth.

Diseases and pests

In the spring, cherries may be subject to clasterosporia. The disease manifests itself in the form of brown spots with a red border on the leaves, which over time can reach a diameter of 2 cm.After 10 days, a hole can be observed in their place. With a large affected area, the leaf plates dry out and fall off.

Formations with clasterosporiasis can also form on berries, in which case their surface is covered with pressed purple spots. At the initial stage, their diameter is 1 mm, but in the absence of timely measures, they can increase by 4 times. To combat a fungal disease, spraying with a 1% solution of copper sulfate is used, dissolving 100 g of the product in 10 liters of water.

Treatment to prevent the appearance of clasterosporiasis is recommended in early spring, when the buds have not yet begun to bloom. If the plant is sick, then spraying with Bordeaux liquid is used, diluting 100 g of the drug into 10 liters of water.

Recommended 4 treatments:

• before flowering or at the stage of bud formation;
• after flowering;
• 2 weeks after 2nd spray;
• 30 days before the planned harvest.

Cherry can get coccomycosis, which manifests itself in the form of red dots on the leaves. As it develops, the plates become yellow, dry out and fall off prematurely. The danger lies in the fact that the spores of the fungus can spread over long distances and infect large areas of plantings in a short time. For the fight, spraying with a solution of vitriol is used, preparing it from 100 g of the product and 10 liters of water, the procedure is carried out until flowering begins. For the same purposes, you can use the drug "Horus", following the rules for the preparation and use of the working solution.

The most common cherry diseases include:

• scab;
• rust;
• moniliosis.

The most common pests of cherries include aphids, mites, leafworms To combat diseases and pests, drugs of directed action are used. As a means of prevention, tree trunks are whitewashed in spring, and leaves and affected tree branches are burned in autumn.

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