How to Grow Cherry Trees? Detailed Explanation of Cultivation Methods and Key Technical Points
Cherries have bright, vivid colors and a crystal-clear, beautiful appearance, and are deeply loved by consumers. With the spread of greenhouse cultivation technology, growing cherries using greenhouse technology has also become popular among farmers. Greenhouse cherries require low investment and yield high returns. For example, if greenhouse cultivation is used in early spring, cherries can be brought to market earlier and generate considerable economic benefits. So, how do you grow cherry trees? The cultivation and management of greenhouse cherries are introduced below.
Image: Cherry tree
I. Greenhouse Construction for the Cherry Orchard
1. Site selection:When building the greenhouse, choose a loam or sandy loam site that is sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, with ample light, flat terrain, convenient drainage and irrigation, and loose soil. According to the heat dissipation conditions of the greenhouse, the greenhouse area should preferably be 300-400 sq m, and it should generally be built as an east-west-oriented single-slope greenhouse.
2. Greenhouse construction:To reduce costs, the north wall can be made of earth. The east and west walls are 3 m high, and at 2 m from the north wall the height is 3.5 m, supported by gypsum strips (with steel bars inside). The south wall is 2.5 m high, and the east and west walls each have a working door and ventilation windows. The windows are 1.5 m above the ground, and the inner sides of the north and south walls are both sealed with mud coating (except the windows) to prevent cold and preserve heat. Inside the greenhouse, gypsum strips (with steel bars inside) serve as the main columns, with row spacing and column spacing of 3.5 m. Above the columns, moso bamboo is used as the framework, connecting the south wall and the north wall, tied into 50 cm squares, covered with anti-drip film, and then a layer of straw curtains is laid over the film. The time for covering the greenhouse should be controlled between late December and early January.
II. Selection of Cherry Tree Varieties
1. The purpose of establishing greenhouse cherries is to bring cherries to market earlier and obtain higher economic benefits, so when selecting varieties, choose excellent varieties with early maturity and a high self-pollination fruit-setting rate. Such as Hongdeng, Dahong, Zhusha, Jianye, and other varieties. At the same time, pollinator trees should be arranged at a ratio of 4:1 (such as Lapins or Stella) to prevent situations such as low self-fruit-setting rate and poor quality.
2. In order to use land more economically and see benefits earlier, cherry saplings should be selected as strong seedlings with a robust root system, many fibrous roots, thick and strong stems, and plump buds, or 5-8-year-old early-fruiting trees that are relatively short with more inner-canopy branches. The rootstock should be selected as seedling rootstock of mountain cherry, and dwarfing rootstock (such as Caiyang dwarf cherry) should be used as the interstock.
Image: Cherry tree
III. Pruning Techniques for Cherry Trees
1. For young trees, remove excessively vigorous upright main branches on the central leader and excessively vigorous water sprouts on the main branches. For the retained main branches and lateral branches on the main branches, focus on bending branches to open the angle and notching buds. The opening angle of main branches should preferably be 60-70 degrees, and the opening angle of lateral branches should preferably be 70-80 degrees. When bending branches, they should be pulled into a straight line, and must not be pulled into a bow shape. Bud notching is generally carried out in early March before buds sprout, and on the main branches its purpose is to promote lateral branch development.
2. For trees in the early fruiting stage, 4-7 years old, adjust the tree structure and pay attention to cultivating fruiting branch groups on the main branches. First, gradually remove main branches that are too low or too dense, so that the main branches do not affect one another. Second, appropriately retract branches that have no branching to promote branching. Third, retract or cut back overly weak lateral branches for rejuvenation, and for overly vigorous ones, open the angle to moderate the growth vigor and promote flower formation.
3. For trees in the full fruiting stage, adjust the tree structure well and improve light and air conditions within the canopy. Excess upright branches, overly dense branches, overlapping branches, crossing branches, and the like that sprout within the canopy should be resolutely removed, and the spacing between layers should be opened up so as not to disrupt the tree shape and consume nutrients. If the tree is too tall, promptly top it and open the center, using weak branches as the leader to control canopy height.
IV. Flower and Fruit Management of Cherry Trees
1. At the early flowering stage and around the full flowering stage of cherries, spray "Yunda-Quanshuguo" at 1500-2000 times dilution 1-2 times each, which can fully promote the normal development and elongation of pollen buds and pollen tubes, significantly increase the fruit-setting rate, and at the same time help pollination and fertilization and reduce flower and fruit drop.
2. During the young fruit swelling stage of cherries, spraying "Yunda-Quanshuguo" at 2000 times dilution can reduce detachment at the fruit stalk of cherries, prevent the formation of an abscission layer at the fruit stalk, reduce the second physiological fruit drop, and at the same time fully promote synchronous cell division and elongation, making the fruit stalk sturdy and elongated, accelerating uniform fruit growth, and promoting the synthesis and conversion of fruit sugars, which can noticeably increase the selling price.
3. At the initial stage of fruit coloring, measures such as leaf removal and laying reflective film 10-15 days before harvest are taken to promote fruit coloring. Calcium salts are sprayed before harvest (spraying 0.3% calcium chloride solution 3 times consecutively at one-week intervals before harvest can reduce cracking of large cherries and extend shelf life).
Image: Cherry tree
V. Fertilization Management of Cherry Trees
1. Base fertilizer:Apply base fertilizer early in autumn, no later than November. Barnyard manure, human and livestock urine and dung, and farmyard manure can all be applied. Generally, for young trees and trees in the early fruiting stage, apply 30-60 kg of human and livestock manure or 100 kg of barnyard manure per tree, and for mature trees apply 60-80 kg of human and livestock manure or 200 kg of barnyard manure per tree.
2. Topdressing:The topdressing time is before flowering or during the first rapid growth period of the fruit, mainly with quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, which can increase the fruit-setting rate, promote shoot growth and leaf enlargement, and lay a good foundation for flower bud differentiation. If 0.5% urea plus 0.5% boron fertilizer or 600 times monopotassium phosphate is sprayed on the leaves 1-2 times at the early full flowering stage, the fruit-setting rate can be increased even more.
3. Supplementary fertilizer:Supplementary fertilizer after fruit harvest can enhance the tree's stored nutrients and promote flower bud differentiation. After harvest, the fruit tree shifts from the nutrient consumption stage of flowering, fruiting, shoot growth, and leaf expansion to the nutrient accumulation stage and begins to enter the qualitative change period of flower bud differentiation. Therefore, the types of supplementary fertilizer are mainly quick-acting fertilizers, such as decomposed human manure, bean cake types, and chemical fertilizers. The amount of fertilizer applied can be determined according to tree age, canopy size, and fruit load. Generally, apply 60-80 kg of decomposed human manure per tree, or 2.5-3 kg of decomposed bean cake, or 1.5 kg of ammonium sulfate, or 0.5-1 kg of urea. Foliar spraying can also be used.
VI. Watering Management of Cherry Trees
1. Before germination to flowering, water to meet the water demand for leaf expansion and flowering. This watering can lower soil temperature, prolong the flowering period, and sometimes avoid damage from late frost.
2. Carry out 10-15 days after flower drop. At this time, large cherry growth and development are most vigorous, and sensitivity to water supply is greatest. Lack of water will cause large amounts of "willow-yellow fruit" with softened pits. Watering reduces willow-yellow fruit by an average of 38.7% compared with no watering.
3. Water thoroughly once 10-15 days before harvest, which has a great impact on the yield and quality of large cherries. This is the period of rapid fruit swelling. If water is lacking, the fruit develops poorly, resulting not only in low yield but also poor quality. Watering before harvest increases yield by 20-30% compared with no watering, but watering too late delays the harvest period.
4. After fruit harvest, flower bud differentiation proceeds intensively. To restore the tree and ensure normal flower bud differentiation, topdressing and watering should be carried out. This watering should preferably be a small amount, just enough to wet the soil surface. A short subsequent dry spell is beneficial to flower bud formation.
5. After applying base fertilizer in October, a thorough watering should immediately follow to enhance the tree's overwintering ability.
[Editor's Conclusion]Growing cherry trees in greenhouses can achieve extremely high yields and has high economic value. The cultivation and management of greenhouse cherries have been introduced above, and I hope it will be helpful to everyone!