Watering sweet cherries has its finer points: what is the best way to water them?
What is the best way to water sweet cherries? Advice requested. Sweet cherries can be watered according to the following methods: 1. Pre-bloom water. Pre-bloom water is applied from bud break to before flowering, mainly to meet the water needs of sweet cherry leaf expansion and flowering. During this period temperatures are relatively low, so the irrigation amount should be small, judged by "water just wetting the surface and drying", so as to avoid...
What is the best way to water sweet cherries? Advice requested
Sweet cherries can be watered according to the following methods:
1. Pre-bloom water. Pre-bloom water is applied from bud break to before flowering, mainly to meet the water needs of sweet cherry leaf expansion and flowering. During this period temperatures are relatively low, so the irrigation amount should be small, judged by "water just wetting the surface and drying", so as to avoid lowering the soil temperature and affecting root growth. For irrigation water, water from reservoirs and ponds is best. Well water is low in temperature, so it is best to first draw it up and store it in a water tank, let it sit in the sun for a while, or let the well water flow through a longer channel to warm up before use.
2. Pit-hardening water. From mid-April to late April is the period when sweet cherries are most sensitive to water. During this period irrigation should be frequent and the irrigation amount should be large, generally 1-2 irrigations, so that the water content of the 10-30 cm deep soil layer reaches more than 12%. When irrigating, square or rectangular beds should be built between the rows and plants of the sweet cherry orchard. The soil surface near the trunk should be slightly higher, and the surrounding soil surface should be leveled, to prevent drought at the high spots and water accumulation at the low spots. In sandy sweet cherry orchards, irrigate about 2 cubic meters per tree each time.
3. Pre-harvest water. From 10 to 15 days before harvest is the period of rapid fruit enlargement for sweet cherries. If water is lacking during this period, the fruit develops poorly, resulting not only in low yield but also poor quality. However, suddenly applying a large amount of water can easily cause fruit cracking. Therefore, irrigation during this period should be done in small amounts and several times. Watering should be controlled 8 days before harvest, and fruit should be harvested 8 days after rain to ensure fruit quality.
4. Post-harvest water. After cherry harvest, it is an important period for tree recovery and flower bud differentiation. At this time, irrigation should be combined with fertilization to restore the tree and ensure normal flower bud differentiation. In places with sufficient water sources, when the weather is dry after harvest, irrigation should be combined with fertilization and digging to accelerate the release of fertilizer efficiency and promote flower bud differentiation. The irrigation amount should be small rather than large, and it is better that the water just wets the surface. Afterward, if there is short-term drought, it is beneficial to flower bud formation.
5. Growth water. In summer and autumn, the irrigation amount and irrigation timing for sweet cherries depend on rainfall conditions, and soil moisture should often be kept at about 60% of the field maximum water-holding capacity. During the growing season, after each irrigation and rainfall, the soil should be loosened and weeds removed.
6. Freezing water. Around Major Snow, irrigate the whole orchard with freezing water (irrigate fully and thoroughly) to help preserve soil moisture and allow the trees to overwinter safely.
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