As the saying goes: cherries are delicious, but the trees are hard to grow. The difficulty in growing the trees is mainly determined by the characteristics of the cherry root system. The cherry root system is very shallow, so it is very afraid of drought; the root respiration intensity is relatively high, requiring more oxygen than other fruit trees, and it is most afraid of waterlogging. If water accumulates for even a slightly extended period during the rainy season, it will affect root respiration, causing yellow leaves in mild cases and death in severe cases. If you want to plant cherries successfully and grow them well, you must do a good job with site establishment, planting, and the water management that follows.

I. Site Selection

Choose a plot with high terrain, where water does not easily accumulate, and with a low groundwater table, with neutral or slightly acidic, deep, well-aerated sandy loam soil. If the soil quality is poor, deep plowing should be carried out before establishing the orchard, along with soil improvement measures such as increasing organic fertilizer application, because cherries have very high requirements for ecological conditions. Only deep, active topsoil and relatively strong soil fertility can make the cherry root system well developed, the tree vigorous, and the stress resistance strong, resulting in high fruit quality and yield. This is especially true for the soil in the root zone, which is very difficult to improve after planting and orchard establishment.

II. Irrigation and Drainage Design

Good irrigation and drainage facilities must be present around the orchard to ensure timely watering during drought and timely drainage to prevent waterlogging during the rainy season. For newly established orchards, the main ditches and branch ditches should be scientifically designed. For orchards on plains or large plots, it is best to plant on ridges so that the ridge furrows can be used for irrigation and drainage. Water seeping sideways from the ridge furrows to the roots can also prevent the root soil from compacting after watering, which helps the seedlings recover and develop roots.

III. Scientific Planting

1. Planting Time

Cherries are best planted in autumn, because spring drought in northern regions makes traditional spring planting more difficult in terms of water management. Moreover, if spring planting is too early and temperatures are unstable, the trees are prone to freeze damage; if spring planting is too late, buds break quickly while roots grow slowly, causing seedling death. With autumn planting, the seedlings can recover and sprout and grow in the same season, and in the following spring they sprout and branch early, making it easy to form strong seedlings. After autumn planting, before the soil freezes, soil should be mounded up to protect against freezing.

2. Planting Method

The "small hole, deep planting, shallow burying" method should be used. The traditional fruit tree cultivation method of digging large holes is not suitable for cherries, because cherry roots are shallow and cannot tolerate waterlogging. If planted in large holes, the soil inside the hole is looser than the soil around it, which easily causes internal waterlogging during the rainy season and can lead to seedling death in severe cases. The "small hole, deep planting, shallow burying" method means digging out three to four spadefuls of soil, applying two spadefuls of mixed manure, loosening the soil at the edge of the hole and mixing it evenly with the mixed manure in the hole, then placing the seedling (choose a thick, sturdy seedling with a well-developed root system), covering with a shallow layer of soil just enough to bury the original soil mark on the roots. Then press the soil down lightly so that the root crown is about 15 cm below the ground surface, forming a small planting depression beneath the seedling. In this way, "deep planting" lowers the seedling's center of gravity and helps it resist lodging, while "shallow burying" facilitates root respiration so the seedling recovers quickly and grows well.

3. Water Management

After planting, water frequently, but avoid heavy watering. Adjust according to the weather: during drought, water frequently with small amounts; during waterlogging, drain actively, keeping the soil surface in the root zone alternating between dry and moist. ⟦15 Cherry Cultivation Techniques: Seven Measures for Cherry Planting Management

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