Cherry is a widespread fruit tree throughout the European space. She tolerates cold well, lives long. And with proper care, it will give a rich harvest. So, you have the opportunity and desire to plant a cherry orchard. But they never did gardening. Where to start? Let’s take it in order
Preparing for planting
What factors to consider?
It is necessary to start laying out the garden with the choice of a place. Cherry is a perennial fruit plant, lives for about 15 years. Therefore, when choosing a site, it is necessary to take into account age characteristics. The tree will grow. Will he be hindered by fences or buildings? What will be the lighting there? What kind of soil? (We’ll talk about soil a bit later.) Will there be other trees nearby? All factors must be carefully considered.
What do you need to know about varieties?
The site has been selected. Time to buy seedlings. There are many varieties of these fruits. Here it is necessary to build on the climate where they will grow. For the center of Our Country, the north of Ukraine, it is necessary to choose frost-resistant varieties. Here, the following bear fruit well: Nezyabkaya, Nizhnekamsk, Persistent, Chocolate.
For warmer regions, average frost resistance is suitable: Bagrynaya, Vladimirskaya, Volochaevka, Zhukovskaya.
If you live in the Moscow region, then you need to choose varieties that are resistant to fungal infection: Diamond, Generous, Toy, Crystal, Youth, Meeting, Shubinka, others.
In the Urals, sandy soils are also taken into account. The following breeds are most suitable here: Bolotovskaya, Plamennaya, Standard of the Urals, Ashinskaya, Mayak.
The harsh Siberian climate is poorly tolerated by ordinary plant varieties. Therefore, special ones have been bred for Siberia, which have proven themselves perfectly: Early Altai, Snowstorm, Altai Large, Vuzovskaya, Shadrinskaya, Maksimovskaya, Altai Swallow, and others. These varieties are also unique in that they are suitable for other regions where ordinary cherries do not bear fruit well.
Which place is better to choose?
These trees need good lighting. Therefore, give preference to the south side. Make sure that other plants do not create shade for them. It is normal if a fence or a wooden structure is located nearby (taking into account the growth!). In winter, snow will accumulate here, which acts as a “warmer”.
What to look for when buying seedlings?
First of all, carefully inspect the roots. They must be healthy, without damage, insects. It is better to take 1-2-year-old trees grafted with cuttings. If they are 3-4 years old, then the cherry will begin to bear fruit a little later.
It’s okay if cherries were purchased in the fall for spring planting. Then dig a furrow 35 cm deep. At an angle of 30-40 degrees, lay the trees with their roots down, crown to the south. Cover with earth, directly to the side shoots. Thoroughly tamp, pour. Cover the crown with spruce branches to protect it from freezing, as well as damage by rodents.
How to choose pickup time
When planting cherries take into account climatic conditions. For southern, warm regions, an autumn landing is suitable. October is the best time, for the month when the first frosts come.
September is suitable for a temperate climate (middle lane). In autumn, seedlings take root here better.
In areas with severe weather (Siberia, the Urals), cherries are planted exclusively in spring. Local varieties successfully winter at 40 degrees below zero.
What should be the soil
The ideal soil for cherry trees is sandy loam, the reaction is neutral, the relief is wavy. Groundwater must be deep. The land must be carefully prepared. In autumn, it is fertilized with minerals for spring planting.
Both organic and chemical fertilizers are needed. The site is covered with a thick layer of manure (up to 15 kg. – 1 sq. Km.). Then phosphorus preparations are added (simple superphosphate, phosphate rock, double superphosphate). Also potash fertilizers (potassium sulfate, potassium salt, potassium chloride). 100 grams of each type. Nitrogen chemicals are excluded at this stage. Because in the spring it can burn the roots of the plant.
In acid soil, cherries take root poorly. Therefore, such soil is limed, adding about 600 grams of lime. The lime mass depends on the level of acidity.
Landing technology
How to plant cherries
The video at the end of the recording describes a very good method of planting cherries, which is often used by residents of the Moscow region.
In April, as soon as the snow has melted, you can start planting the plant. The weather should be warm, dry, windless. The site for seedlings is leveled. All trees are carefully inspected. If damaged parts appear during the winter, remove them until healthy tissue appears.
Decide how many trees you are going to plant in order to calculate the distance on the garden plot. Optimal – 3 meters between each. Between rows – 3,5 meters.
cherry planting in spring
Planting pit preparation
The approximate size of the pit is 60x60x60 centimeters. With a strong deepening, the root system is difficult to develop. When superficial – the roots overheat in summer, and in winter – freezing.
Dig holes a month before planting to ventilate the earth. Fertilized and lower layers of soil are discarded on different sides. A meter-long wooden stake must be driven into the central part of the pit. It will serve as a support for a weak tree.
Planting of seedlings
The pit is fertilized with 15 kilograms of manure. Phosphorus fertilizers 300 grams, potash – 80 grams. Instead of potassium, you can use half a kilogram of ash.
An earthen mound of about 50 centimeters is formed around the support. A seedling is placed on it, spreading the roots over the surface of the soil. They fill up the hole, trampling down the ground well. Then the seedling needs to be watered abundantly. To do this, form a hole around it. Enough about 3 buckets of water at room temperature for one plant.
The watered soil is covered with earth. The tree is tied to a support so that it is not shaken by the wind. If everything is done correctly and with soul, then in 2-3 years fruiting will begin. And for 4-5 years, expect a rich harvest.
Video “Planting cherries”
On the video you can see the technological process of planting cherry trees. The method described in the recording is often used by residents of the Moscow region.