Growing cherries in central Russia. Spring planting cherries: useful recommendations In what month to plant cherries in the spring

To fruit tree actively developed and bore fruit well, a sunny place is chosen for it, which is not blown by cold northern winds. A good option would be to plant a seedling on the southwest or south side of a building. Cherry loves fertile light loams, sandy loam soils, and feels absolutely uncomfortable on poor sandstones, heavy peat and clay soils.

You only need to plant zoned seedlings that are sold in specialized nurseries. In addition, they will definitely tell you how to grow cherries without unnecessary hassle. To improve pollination, experts advise planting two or three trees on a plot, but if there is not enough space, growing cherries from your neighbors will save the situation.

The main, beloved varieties:

very early - " Ruby early", juicy " Skorospelka»;
early - unsurpassed " Valery Chkalov", tender " Homestead" And " Jaboulet»;
average - " Pink pearl», « Adeline" and dark red " Veda»;
late - " Leningrad black", sweet " Drogana yellow" And " Bryansk pink».

IN middle lane They practice spring planting of cherries, since this is a heat-loving species that can freeze out in the first winter.

Planting correctly

You can plant a cherry orchard in the spring from April until the second ten days of May, provided that the seedlings have unblown leaves. The most favorable months for planting in autumn are September and October, because the young tree will have time to take root before the onset of frost (applicable only to the southern regions).

Planting a tree:

Planting holes must be prepared in advance. If you plant in the spring, prepare it in the fall, and for planting in the fall - around August. It is best to make the holes round, so the roots will develop well, filling the space evenly. The optimal diameter of the hole is about a meter, the depth is about 80 cm. We pour two buckets of good soil and 12 kg of manure, which must be rotted, into the hole. Mix everything thoroughly and leave for the earth to settle and settle;
At the time of planting, we dig a hole, leaving a small mound in the middle. We drive a strong stake 5 cm from the center, which will initially protect the trunk of a fragile tree from strong winds and sunburn;
We examine the root system for damaged roots and cut them back to healthy tissue. In addition, do not forget to place the seedling in water a day before planting so that it is well saturated with moisture;
We place the young tree on a mound and carefully place the roots, while monitoring the position of the root collar, which must not be buried;
We tie the seedling to the stake and fill the hole with earth, compacting it with our feet perpendicular to the trunk (heel to the edge of the hole);
Create a hole around the stem and pour out 3 buckets of water.

Planted young cherry trees are subsequently watered at least 4 times.

Making the cut

Young trees grow very intensively, so for the first 6 years before the leaves bloom, formative pruning is done. The tree must be kept within certain limits to make harvesting convenient.

The most common types of crowns are:

sparsely tiered. In total, three tiers are laid, leaving 4 skeletal branches in the lower one (3 are possible), on average 50 cm apart - 3 branches, and in the upper one, at the same distance, 2 more branches.
flattened. The principle of pruning is based on the formation of three tiers: in each of them two branches are placed perpendicular to each other. After laying the last tier above the weak side branch, the main conductor is cut off. Subsequently, the branches in tiers are pruned, adhering to the sparse-tiered principle;
cup-shaped. Such a crown consists of mainly four or five strong branches that form something like a bowl. Thanks to good lighting, fruit branches will live for more than ten years.

Upon completion of formation, pruning is done moderately for ten years, removing all broken, unnecessary shoots and shoots growing towards the conductor. So, the time for the first rejuvenating pruning is imperceptibly coming: you need to shorten all two- and three-year-old branches. Three years later, they make another one, cutting out branches with five- and six-year-old wood. Between “rejuvenation” trees continue to be thinned out annually.

Water and fertilize

In the year of planting, it is very important to destroy weeds in tree trunk circle cherries and subsequently continue to carefully monitor this. The ground around the tree can be mulched to retain moisture as much as possible.

Experts recommend the first watering only after flowering, the next one in mid-June and then in July. Do not water during flowering the tree may react by completely dropping the ovary. Water-charging irrigation is carried out in October - up to 100 liters per adult tree. For good harvests, the tree will need a lot of nutrients, which means it can’t do without fertilizing.

Once every three years, 8 kg of organic matter is dug up with soil per square meter according to the projection of the crown. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied in early spring and in July for loosening in liquid or dry form. The tree is treated with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers in September so that it has time to prepare for the winter cold. In addition, growing cherries requires whitewashing the trunk and skeletal branches in autumn and spring to prevent sunburn and frost damage.

Pests and diseases on our way

We have already figured out how to care for cherries, but how to protect them from feathered raiders is a real problem. Experienced gardeners They are taking various measures - hanging shiny CDs, rustling bags, foil, hanging ratchets, installing stuffed animals. But smart sparrows quickly get used to it and again, without fear, begin to help themselves to juicy berries. Only covering nets, which are lightweight and convenient, can really help here.

Among the most common pests are aphids and gypsy moths. The first one feeds on the juice of the shoots, the second one eats the leaves. Spraying trees with a solution will help get rid of them. Inta-Vir before or after flowering.

The thick stalk, which lays eggs inside the fruit, can completely destroy the crop. The larvae that emerge eat the berries, which eventually fall off. The situation will be saved by drug treatment Insegar.

The cherry tree is threatened by such diseases as gray rot(moniliosis), perforated spotting (clasterosporiasis), coccomycosis. Treatment and care of cherries in the fall in such cases begin with the removal of damaged berries, leaves and shoots. Treatment Bordeaux mixture several times in summer and autumn helps save the harvest.

Picking berries

Cherry varieties ripen from the beginning of June to the twentieth of July. It is customary to distinguish between two types of ripeness: technical, when the fruits tend to acquire their inherent color and taste, and consumer, when they are the most tasty and juicy. The crop is harvested in dry weather within just a couple of days, otherwise the harvest may be lost. The berries are removed from the stalk and unripe and diseased specimens are immediately removed. For transportation, the fruits are picked at the stage of technical ripeness.

Everyone loves cherries, because they contain many valuable elements, including vitamin C, nicotinic acid, and carotene. Doctors recommend eating berries for those who have thyroid diseases, as they are also rich in iodine. And how many delicious preparations can be prepared from it - compotes, preserves, jam, juices, you can marinate and eat as a side dish for meat dishes. And how tasty frozen berries are in winter: you open a jar, and there ... summer.

Without good skills, you cannot grow varietal seedlings on your own, so the vast majority of summer residents purchase them at markets in the fall or spring. It is much more profitable for nurseries to sell trees in the fall, after leaf fall, so the largest selection of varieties will be at this time of year. However, planting them on permanent place It's best in the spring. In order for the tree to feel comfortable all winter, its root system should be buried- to do this, dig a small trench, lay out the trees at an angle and sprinkle the roots with earth, so as to completely cover them.

For this, choose a place protected from the northern winds; it’s even better if good snowdrifts form in this place in winter. In spring, it’s time to find a permanent “place of residence” for your seedlings. This area should be protected from north winds and well lit. Best option than the south side of the house or slope, it’s hard to imagine. Cherries do not like lowlands, so when planting, avoid such places or build at least a small half-meter hill from the ground.

The tree feels best on loamy and sandy soils, which provide the necessary soil aeration and breathability.

Heavy clay soils are not suitable, but if you have no other choice, then try to add more rotted manure to a decent depth ahead of time. Cherries cannot tolerate excess moisture, although they love it, so soils with close levels groundwater also not suitable. It is best to plant several varieties at once to ensure cross-pollination. There is an opinion that cherries can also cope with this function, but this is a mistake - cherries are not able to provide high quality pollination, as can be seen from a large number crumbled ovary.

Planting cherries in the spring requires preparing the site in the fall. To do this, a hole at least half a meter deep is dug under each tree and large diameter. Its bottom should be loosened and several buckets of humus should be poured inside the hole. Over the winter it will rot, and substances that are too caustic for young roots will be absorbed into the soil, then gradually and without damage to be absorbed by the root system. In early spring, superphosphate and sodium sulfate are also added to the holes, 300 g and 100 g, respectively, and a kilogram of ash will not hurt.

There is practically no need to care for cherries planted in such a fertilized hole in the spring; the supply of nutrients is laid down for several years in advance. Before the buds swell and bloom, it’s time to plant seedlings. Having carefully dug out their roots, they should be kept in water for several hours and only then distributed among the holes. You can’t plant cherries too deep, because you still need to remember about the sedimentation of the soil. After the tree is planted, make a small trench around it and pour a bucket of water into it. When the liquid is absorbed, properly mulch the watering area.

When planting a two-year-old tree, its branches need to be shortened a little, although this should be done only until the buds swell. Did not have time? Then it’s better not to touch it - prune in the early spring of next year. Pruning can also be done in winter, in December or January, the main thing is to do it before the sap begins to flow. There is a separate article on our website that you should definitely read!

In this article we will tell you how to properly plant cherries in the spring. Selecting a planting site and seedling, preparing the soil and planting cherries in the garden.

Cherry is a wonderful fruit tree. Cherries are loved by both adults and children. But few people know how to properly plant cherries in the spring, and a properly planted tree is the key to a rich harvest.

Choosing a landing site

First of all, you need to determine the place where you can plant cherries. This fruit tree is very heat-loving. Therefore, you need to choose a warm and sunny place, and protect the tree from the north wind.

These conditions will ensure high taste qualities berries Experienced gardeners advise planting cherries before the buds on the trees begin to bloom, but you need to choose the moment when it is no longer cold outside. If you miss the moment of planting, you can destroy the seedling.

Particular attention should be paid to the depth of groundwater: at least one meter is recommended, otherwise the root system will rot, which will lead to disease and reduced yield.

Buying a seedling

It is necessary to choose the right seedling. A good cherry seedling should be one to two years old and have a developed root system. It is advisable to buy planting material in specialized stores or nurseries, this guarantees its quality and compliance with the declared variety. Be sure to ask how the seedling was grown.

The budding method is preferable because cherry seedlings grown from seeds do not produce good berries. After a cherry seedling has been purchased, it needs to be prepared for transportation. It is best to wrap the roots of the seedling with damp, soft cloth so that they do not dry out.

Soil preparation

Before planting a cherry seedling, you need to prepare the soil. To do this, you need to loosen and fertilize it in advance. Experienced gardeners advise thinking about this in the fall. That's when the soil will absorb required amount fertilizer and will be quite fertile.

In spring, meltwater will play a big role, as it will be absorbed into the ground after the snow melts, saturating it with moisture. Before planting, it is necessary to loosen the soil again and allow it to soak in oxygen.

Planting a seedling

Soil preparation is complete. You can proceed directly to planting the tree. To do this, it is advisable to follow the following sequence:

In order for the seedling to take root, it is necessary to dig a shallow hole with steep edges without narrowing towards the bottom.

Apply ready-made fertilizers, for example, potassium sulfide and superphosphate. Experts advise not to add other chemical additives, so as not to burn the roots of the young tree.

Pay attention to the condition of the seedling. If during transportation the tree has dried up, then it is advisable to put it in water for several hours. During this time, the seedling will absorb the required amount of water.

Now it is important to remember the method of planting cherries. First you need to fill in half of the root system of the sweet cherry, then you need to pour out a bucket of water and continue to fill the hole with fertilized soil.

It is necessary to remember that cherries love moisture very much, but do not tolerate stagnation of water. When all requirements are met and proper care, the tree will grow well, delight you with tasty and juicy berries.

How to plant cherries VIDEO

Heat-loving plant. And if you want to plant it on your site, choose a place well lit by the sun and protected from northern winds. Cherries should not be shaded by any other trees. In addition, cherries do not like sandy soils, as well as places where groundwater lies high.

When and how to plant cherries in the spring? The optimal time for planting cherries is before the buds swell in early spring. However, if the air temperature is below 0°C, then you cannot plant cherry seedlings, even if you purchased winter-hardy variety. Cherries planted in May, when the buds have already blossomed, will be very painful and will not take root well. It is also not recommended to plant cherries in the fall due to the danger of early frosts.

Cherry is a cross-pollinated plant, that is, it will not set fruit due to pollination by its own pollen. There is a misconception that cherries can pollinate cherries. However, in order to receive good harvests, it is best to plant 2-3 cherry trees on a plot different varieties at a distance of 4 meters from each other.

Planting and caring for cherries

Cherry seedlings are most often purchased in the fall. At this time, their choice is very rich. Suitable for planting are both annual and two-year-old seedlings. When purchasing, be sure to evaluate the root system of the seedlings: it must be sufficiently developed. The height of one-year-old seedlings should be about 80 cm, and two-year-old ones - about one meter. For the winter, the seedlings need to be buried.

The place for planting cherry seedlings must be prepared in the fall. The soil on the site should be loose and fertile. When digging up an area for cherries, we apply fertilizers: manure, rotted compost and any complex mineral fertilizers. If necessary, deoxidize the soil with lime. The hole for planting a cherry seedling in the spring should be no deeper than 60 cm and up to 80 cm in diameter. First, you need to drive a planting stake into the hole, and then fill it with a nutrient mixture consisting of humus, topsoil, potassium sulfate and superphosphate. The hole is filled to one third, then a mound is made in the center and sprinkled with soil without fertilizers.

If the roots of the seedling are dry, soak them in water for 6-7 hours. When planting, the seedling should be placed on a mound and the roots should be sprinkled halfway, constantly shaking the seedling so that the earth fills all the voids. Now you need to pour in a bucket of water and cover the seedling completely with soil. In this case, the root collar of the seedling should not be buried, but protrude 4-5 cm above the ground surface. When the earth settles, the root collar will be located exactly at soil level. Using your feet, compact the soil around the planted tree, make a hole with a roller, where you pour another bucket of water. We mulch the soil around the tree with humus or peat, and tie the seedling to a stake with twine.

Further care for planted cherries consists of fertilizing, which must be carried out young tree 2-3 times a season. The best fertilizer- slurry diluted in a ratio of 1:6. To this solution add 1 tbsp. spoon of complex fertilizer per 1 bucket of water. Young trees need to be pruned to form a crown. In spring and autumn, tree trunks are whitewashed, and by winter they are covered with spruce branches, protecting them from rodents.

How to treat cherries in spring?

In early spring, returning cold weather with frosts is not uncommon. To protect young cherry seedlings, you need to water the tree generously in the evening and spray the crown with water. If you find aphids on your young cherry tree, start fighting it immediately. To do this, you can spray the tree with a decoction wood ash, dandelion, garlic or onion. Spraying the tree with potassium sulfate will also be detrimental to aphids. But if a cherry tree is affected by hole spot, it is necessary to cut it out and spray the tree with a solution of the drug chorus or speed.

By following the rules for planting and caring for cherries in the spring, protecting them from pests, you will soon receive excellent harvest these delicious berries.

To ensure that cherry seedlings take root, in regions with a temperate climate they are planted mainly in the spring. Spring planting in cold winters and extremely low temperatures it is much more reliable than the autumn one.

What time is spring planting done?

Until recently, it was believed that cherries were an exclusively southern tree, as they were not able to withstand the frosts characteristic of the middle zone. Thanks to breeding work, varieties have appeared that are suitable for cultivation in various regions of Russia.

Southern regions. Here, cherries are planted mainly in the fall, as soon as the leaves begin to fall. In the fall, the seedling takes root well, and by spring it becomes a fully grown plant.
Central regions, Siberia, Far East. Due to cold winters, autumn planting of seedlings is contraindicated here. Cherry trees are planted here mainly in the spring. Seedlings are usually planted in April - while the buds have not yet swelled. Holes for spring planting are prepared in the fall.

Advantages and disadvantages of spring planting cherries

At the spring and autumn planting their pros and cons, which largely depend on climatic conditions. To determine the timing, it is important to evaluate and compare the features of autumn and spring planting.

Why is it beneficial to plant a seedling in the spring:

If a seedling is planted in April, then it has at least six months to take root and gain strength. Having grown shoots before winter, the seedling will survive it safely.
Spring planting before autumn has important advantage- gardeners can observe the development of the plant in the summer, taking, if necessary, measures to eliminate negative factors - drought, waterlogging, pests, diseases.
The seedling is planted in a hole prepared in the fall. During the winter it settles, so it is easier to plant the seedling correctly - so that the root collar is not buried more than necessary.

Disadvantages of spring planting:

If you plant a seedling in the spring, then in March or April it will suffer from dry winds and pest invasion.
In the spring, a seedling, spending energy on rooting, also spends energy on vegetation - the formation of shoots and leaves.

Selection of seedlings

There are a number of features that are important to pay attention to when purchasing a cherry seedling:

Graft. The grafting must be visible on the seedling - this is a guarantee of the quality of the planting material. The quality of such a seedling is much higher than that grown from seed.
Zoning. They choose varieties zoned in a particular region - those that have proven themselves better than others in a given region. climatic zone.
External characteristics seedling. The tree must have a strong conductor that dominates the side branches. Specimens with a forked trunk are not suitable - they may break under the weight of berries in the future. The seedling must have a developed root system. There should be no broken or damaged roots. The seedling selected for planting must be in the dormant stage.
Age. You should not buy seedlings older than three years.

They buy seedlings from nurseries or specialized retail outlets that have permits. It is advisable that the seedling have a varietal passport, which usually indicates how to plant the seedling correctly and how to care for it.

What trees can I plant cherries with?

Cherries bear full fruit only in a favorable neighborhood. Moreover, if trees are planted nearby with which the cherry tree conflicts, there may be no harvest at all.

Cherry is a cross-pollinated tree; therefore, two or more seedlings are planted at once.

Favorable neighbors for cherries:

cherry;
Apple tree;
plum.

It is undesirable for cherries to grow near:

pears;
peach;
walnut;
black currant;
rowan.

Planting a cherry seedling is a responsible task that should not be rushed. One mistake is enough for the tree to die or not produce a harvest. The gardener must take everything into account - from the neighborhood fruit trees to the composition of the soil. Before you bury the planting material in the soil, you have to choose a place, prepare it and the seedling for planting.

Selecting a location

Landing site requirements:

Good lighting. The site is chosen on a southern or south-eastern slope so that it is well heated by the sun.
Protection from northern winds.
Low groundwater level. If the waters lie at a level of 1.5 m from the ground level, the tree dies due to gum disease.

Cherries are never planted in lowlands.

Soil preparation

In arid areas, cherries grow best on fertile loam. In regions with fairly high humidity - on sandy loams. Clay, peaty and sandy soils are not suitable for cherries. Suitable acidity is pH 6.7-7.1. If a seedling is planted in black soil rich in humus, then a pH level of 8.0 is acceptable.

The soil for planting a seedling should be:

airtight;
moderately humid;
weakly acidic.

When planting in spring, the land is prepared in the fall - it is dug up and fertilizers are applied. In the fall, most gardeners also prepare planting holes.

If the soil does not meet the requirements for planting cherries, it is improved by adding sand to clay soils, and clay to sandy soils.

To provide cherries with nutrients, landing hole a mixture of soil and fertilizers is added, it is prepared from:

topsoil – 2 parts;
humus - 1 part;
peat – 1 part;
potassium sulphide – 50 g;
superphosphate – 100 g.

The components are mixed, and 10 days before planting the seedling, the hole is filled 1/3 with the resulting mixture.

Do not apply nitrogen fertilizers when planting cherry seedlings - they can burn the roots.

What should the hole be like?

When a place for planting has been chosen, they begin to dig a hole. In this case, the fertile layer is deposited separately from the extracted soil. If there is spring planting ahead, you need to prepare the hole for planting no less than 2 weeks in advance. Recommended pit dimensions:

depth – 70 cm;
width – 80-100 cm.

The dug hole should not have any narrowing of the walls. When planting several seedlings, a gap of 2 m or more is left between adjacent holes.

Seedling

Its further development depends on the correct preparation of the seedling for planting. Preparation procedure:

24 hours before planting, the seedling is immersed in a bucket of water to activate the root system.
Before planting, cut off damaged roots, if any.
Long roots are trimmed so that the root system fits completely in the planting hole.
All leaves are removed so that the seedling does not lose moisture.

Step-by-step instructions for landing

The procedure for planting cherry seedlings:

Drive a support into the center of the hole to which the seedling will be tied.
Mix fertile soil with compost and add complex fertilizer, place the mixture at the bottom of the hole.
Place the seedling in the center of the mound of soil mixture, and add enough soil so that the root collar is 3 cm above the soil level. To remove voids, the soil is compacted.
Form an earthen cushion around the seedling.
Pour 20 liters of water under the root of the seedling.
Pour peat into the tree trunk circle to prevent water evaporation.
Tie the seedling to the support, carefully without over-tightening the trunk.

Experienced gardeners advise filling the gaps between cherry seedlings with berries.

To learn how to plant cherry seedlings, watch the video below:

Fundamentals of further care

Measures for caring for young seedlings:

Having planted a seedling, its central conductor is immediately cut off - shortened to 1 m.
A seedling planted in spring is watered every 10 days. Irrigation rate - from 2 buckets. From mid-July the tree does not need to be watered.
In the first year of life, there is no need to feed the tree - all the necessary substances are placed in the planting hole.
Throughout the season, gardeners must monitor the health of trees, promptly spraying them with drugs against diseases and pests.
In the second year, several (3-4) skeletal branches are left on the tree, pruning them by a third. Gradually, annually cutting off the central conductor and cutting out excess branches, three tiers are formed. The last tier consists of 1-2 branches.
Cherry does not like weeds, so there should not be any near the trunk or in the tree trunk circle. The soil is regularly loosened, at the same time removing weeds.
For a successful wintering, a young seedling needs autumn feeding. In September, granulated superphosphate is added under the root - 40-60 g per 1 sq. m.

Common mistakes during spring planting

The consequence of any mistake made by the gardener is a reduction in the yield, up to its complete absence. The maximum damage is the death of a tree.

Common mistakes made when planting cherry seedlings

FAQ

Gardeners often have questions related to planting cherry seedlings. They are interested in what is the best way to plant this tree, and whether it can be replanted.

How to plant grafted cherries?

Grafted cherries are planted in the same way as own-rooted ones. But if the graft is located lower than usual, it is important to ensure that this place is not buried in the ground. It is advisable that the grafting be 6-7 cm from the soil level. If the region is snowy, seedlings with the grafting located at a height of 50-100 cm are needed.

How to plant cherries with pits?

If you grow cherries from seeds, you will not be able to get an original plant. From a seed taken from the most delicious and largest cherry, an ordinary game grows - small and sour. A tree grown from a seed is frost-resistant, resistant to diseases and pests. Why is it? It can be used as a rootstock for grafting cherry trees or for landscaping.

How to plant cherries with pits:

The seeds are taken from completely ripe fruits. extracted from the pulp, washed and dried.
Place the seeds in a paper bag and store until December. Storage temperature is room temperature.
When December comes, the seeds are soaked for several days. The water is changed every day.
The bones are placed in a container with moistened sand and sawdust.
Place the container in a cool place (can be in the refrigerator) for 3 months.
They take it outside in March and cover it with snow.
The sprouted seeds are placed in separate pots. Deepening - 1.5-2 cm.
Shoots that have grown to 10-15 cm dive into pots bigger size.
By autumn, seedlings grow up to 30 cm.
A month before frost, they are planted in the ground, covered with plastic bottles.

Is it possible to plant cherries with cuttings in spring?

The method of propagation by cuttings allows you to obtain all varietal characteristics from a new tree. But this breeding option is not suitable for all varieties. Usually no more than 10% of the cuttings take root. And only in a few varieties this figure reaches 50%.

You can plant cherries from cuttings in the spring; this is done in the same way as when planting ordinary seedlings. But first, the cuttings need to be rooted. It's not difficult, but it takes time. In central Russia, cuttings are harvested on June 10-30.

How to transplant a tree in spring?

If it is decided to transplant a young tree from place to place, it is dug up in the fall and planted in the spring. Procedure:

Moisten the soil the day before digging.
Carefully remove the tree, having first dug a groove around the circumference - according to the diameter of the root system.
Without destroying the soil lump, dig in the tree outside - on winter storage.
In the fall, a planting hole is prepared.
When early spring comes, the buried tree is taken out. It is planted just like a regular seedling.
To prevent the plant from losing strength as it grows shoots, its skeletal branches are cut off by 30%. All flowers are also removed to prevent fruiting in the first year of transplantation.

It happens that you have to replant an adult cherry tree. Such an event does not benefit the tree, but if necessary, it is quite feasible. Transfer order:

In September, a circle is drawn around the tree with a diameter corresponding to the root system. They try to cover as many roots as possible.
Using a shovel, cut the roots to 1/2 of the circle, and dig a trench along this half. The depth of the trench is 1 bayonet shovel.
In the trench, the roots are again cut by one bayonet.
Having filled the trench, water it with water - the tree feeds from half of the roots that remain untouched. New roots will appear on the cut part.

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