A Complete Guide to Precautions for Growing Cherries
Cherries are actually quite similar to Chinese cherries, because cherries belong to a type of European cherry, and the name "cherries" is a transliteration of the English word "cherries." It was mainly named to distinguish it from Chinese cherries when it was introduced into our country. The unit price of cherries on the market is very high, belonging to high-end fruit, and at its highest can reach 100 yuan/jin. So many people started growing them, but what should be noted when growing cherries? Let's take a look below!
1. Temperature
Cherry is a fruit that likes warmth and is not cold-tolerant, adapting to relatively humid and warm environments, not very cold-tolerant, so it is grown more in warm regions. However, it also depends on the variety. Cherries belong to the European sweet cherry varieties, and the growing environment of cherries is relatively suited to dry and cool conditions, so the areas with wider planting area in our country are North China, Northwest China and other regions. Although cherries like warmth, in summer high-temperature and dry environments it is not conducive to the growth and development of cherries. They are not cold-tolerant, but in winter they can withstand temperatures of minus 20 degrees, except that it will seriously affect fruit quality and yield. Too low temperatures will cause longitudinal splitting of large branches and gumming. Moreover, flower buds are very susceptible to frost damage, so when growing cherries, it is not suitable to plant them in areas that are too cold in winter.
2. Water
Cherries are very sensitive to water. Cherries are neither drought-resistant nor waterlogging-tolerant. Although they relatively like water, too much accumulated water in the orchard will seriously affect the normal growth and development of cherries. Planting in southern areas with sufficient rainfall is fine, but if planting in the north, it is necessary to choose relatively humid areas such as hillsides and valleys. And in various countries, cherry-growing regions are all chosen near rivers, water areas or coastal zones. So when growing cherries, try to be close to places with sufficient water sources to ensure the water needed for cherry growth. It should be noted that there should not be accumulated water in the orchard, because accumulated water will cause insufficient oxygen in the soil, affect the respiration of the tree roots, and prevent normal growth and development. In continuous rainy and stormy weather, drainage should be done in time, otherwise the leaves will wither and cannot recover, or even the whole tree will die.
3. Light
Cherries are also a tree species that very much likes light. Compared with other cherry varieties, they need light the most. With sufficient light, cherry trees grow faster, develop well and robustly, and their lifespan also increases. It is also beneficial to the plumpness of flower buds, improves the fruit-setting rate, gives good fruit coloring, and increases sugar content. If light conditions are insufficient, branches are prone to excessive vegetative growth, the branches of the crown gradually weaken, fruiting branches cannot grow normally, and lifespan is reduced. All growth conditions will be completely opposite to when light is strong. So when establishing an orchard, choose to build the orchard on a sunny slope or semi-sunny slope, and it should not be planted too densely, to ensure light conditions and enhance ventilation.
4. Soil
The soil suitable for cherry growth needs to be sandy soil with deep soil layers, loose texture, strong permeability, and effective water retention. When planted in relatively clayey soil, root development is limited and distribution is shallow, and it is neither drought-resistant nor wind-resistant, and is very sensitive to saline land. The soil pH suitable for cherry growth is around 7, so saline-alkali land is not suitable for growing cherries. Cherries are very prone to root crown gall disease, so when there are pathogens such as root crown gall disease in the soil, it is not suitable to plant cherry trees. If infected with root crown gall disease, it will cause more serious root crown gall disease.
The above four points are the things to note when growing cherries, and there is one more thing to note when growing cherries: because the roots of cherries are relatively shallow, their wind resistance is relatively weak. So during the growth process, if relatively strong windstorm or gale weather is encountered, wind protection should be provided for the orchard in time to prevent large-scale lodging of cherry trees. This affects cherry yield and one's own economic interests.