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When a gardener notices that a cherry ovary is falling on his plot, he immediately seeks to correct the situation. To competently help the trees, you should know the main reasons for what is happening and the most effective ways to avoid it.
Abundant flowering pleases gardeners expecting a good harvest
Why do cherries drop fruit
Dropping the ovaries leads to the loss of a significant part of the crop. Sometimes cherries fall off after flowering. This can happen for various reasons, so it will not be possible to do without analyzing the situation. There are several opinions on this issue. Some believe that this is how the natural process of getting rid of an excessive load on the tree manifests itself. Others urge to thin out flowers and ovaries on their own to avoid such a nuisance. Still others are sure that the problem is caused by the characteristics of the tree or improper care. If you adhere to the latter point of view, then there are several reasons that lead to shedding of ovaries on cherries. This will allow the grower to save the crop and prevent a recurrence of a similar situation.
The most common reasons why cherry fruits fall
Depending on the cause, dropping the ovaries leads to varying degrees of damage. Consequently, the actions to eliminate it will also be different.
The main causes, their effects and remedies are presented below.
Too high soil acidity
If such a parameter is found, the soil should be deoxidized. Lime deficiency leads to overgrowth of leaf cover. The fruits do not have enough nutrition, they do not tie. If the ovaries are formed, then the cherries will be small. Most often, they do not ripen, and even green cherries crumble. The introduction of dolomite flour (400 g per 1 sq. M), infusion of wood ash or chalk (1 tablespoon of the substance per 10 liters of water) within a radius of 1 m from the cherry trunk works well.
Unbalanced nutrition
A very important reason. Most often, it is she who causes the ovaries to fall on the cherry tree. Nutrient deficiencies result in little or no flowering. The tree can completely stop growing and drop the ovaries. To fix this, you will need to carry out top dressing with complex mineral fertilizer (50 g per 1 sq. M). Alternate the composition with an infusion of bird droppings or mullein, the consumption of the working solution is at least 30 liters per tree. Another option is the special preparation “Ovary” for cherries, saltpeter, urea in combination with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. The number of dressings should be at least 2-3 times during the season. The most important period is spring before the awakening of the kidneys and the time after flowering. It should be remembered that lime and manure cannot be applied at the same time. Also, when planting seedlings, nitrogen fertilizers are not added.
A sufficient amount of nutrients allows the tree to keep the ovaries
Thickened crown of a tree
This fact leads to a lack of illumination of the ovaries, and they fall off. You can correct the situation by competent spring pruning of the tree before bud break. Especially those branches that grow inward or thicken the middle of the crown. After harvesting the fruits, sanitary pruning of young shoots should be carried out again.
Moisture deficiency
When the cherry blossoms and sets fruit, it really needs water. As soon as the soil moisture decreases, it drops the ovary. It is necessary to monitor the weather conditions in the spring, making up for the lack of watering in time. It is better to do this in the evening along the ring channels on the border of the crown. It is good to combine watering with top dressing.
Characteristics of a variety
This item refers to infertility. Even popular varieties can be self-fertile. Therefore, the absence of pollinating neighbors will lead to the absence of ovaries. It is best to buy seedlings of self-fertile varieties, which guarantee an annual harvest. To navigate, you need to remember that there are three types of crop varieties – self-fertile with 5% ovaries, partially self-fertile with 20% ovary formation and self-fertile with 40% ovaries.
Overloaded with last year’s harvest
After a fertile year, the cherry needs to recover. Therefore, she discards a significant part of the ovaries. Such varieties require special care. It must be regular and of high quality. Autumn dressings play a special role. Along the border of the suction roots per 1 sq. m soil lay humus (15 kg), superphosphate (300 g), a mixture of potassium and magnesium (100 g). Deepen the nutrient composition by 20 cm.
Groundwater height
Cherry belongs to crops that are very sensitive to the parameter. It grows well if the depth is at least 2 m. The proximity of water to the surface of the soil inhibits the plant. It is optimal to plant a cherry orchard on a natural or formed hill.
Weather conditions at the time of flowering
Pollen is capable of fertilization for 3-5 days. If at this time there is heat, then it crumbles. If it rains, then the insects do not fly and do not pollinate the cherry. To attract bees, honey water is used (100 g of honey per 1 liter of water).
Every bee in the garden is considered an important helper for cherry pollination.
Cultivation of non-ranged varieties
The reason is banal, but also common. The discrepancy between the conditions and characteristics of the tree leads to the absence of an ovary.
disease
The fall of the ovary is considered one of the symptoms of clasterosporiasis, as well as cocomycosis. With the last ailment, the cherry discards green fruits. Trees need proper care and treatment.
vermin
The most common cause is the cherry fly or cherry weevil. It helps planting early varieties, preventive measures, compliance with agricultural technology.
What to do so that the cherry does not drop the ovary
There are several activities that save the cherry harvest:
- Reducing the acidity of the soil by introducing appropriate preparations.
- Timely and correct pruning of the tree in early spring and after fruiting.
If you cut the cherry correctly and on time, then the issue of falling ovaries may not arise at all.
- Regular and competent top dressing of cherries.
- Watering taking into account weather conditions and the condition of the plant.
- Regulation of the position of groundwater with the help of measures for their diversion.
- Attracting bees and other insects to the garden for pollination of varieties.
- Selection of mutually pollinated varieties.
- Implementation of the schedule of preventive treatments of cherries from diseases and pests.
- Regular inspection of trees and removal of damaged parts.
- Weeding the site, loosening the soil, enriching with organic matter.
- Cleaning up fallen leaves and fruits.
A very important stage of care is the right choice of spray preparations.
How to process cherries so that the ovary does not crumble
If berries fall on the cherry, then spraying the tree will help. Gardeners recognize Bordeaux mixture as the optimal composition. This operation is often referred to as “blue spraying”. The substance protects the cherry from infection with fungal infections. Spraying should be carried out in early spring, when the buds are just bursting.
It is important not to miss the moment for processing when the kidneys began to grow – time is missed
This period is called “by the green cone”. It will need 3% Bordeaux liquid. The second spraying should be done at the time of active growth of the cherry, when new branches and leaves appear. For this purpose, a 1% solution is prepared. The effect is enhanced if not only the crown is processed, but also the trunk and near-stem circle.
When diseases appear, fungicide treatments are needed, pests are destroyed with insecticides.
Preventive measures
Preventive actions consist in careful observance of the agricultural technology of cherry trees. Treat plants annually with solutions from the appearance of pests and diseases in the garden.
Do not forget to fertilize the land, especially in the autumn period after fruiting.
Young trees must be covered for the winter so that the buds do not freeze.
Timely removal of fallen fruits prevents pests from multiplying and diseases from spreading. You also need to collect ripe fruits in a timely manner in order to prevent overloading the cherries.
Tips from experienced gardeners
If the cherry tree blooms very profusely, then this does not guarantee a rich harvest. Before flowering, it is necessary to add a solution of urea to the near-stem circle (25 g per 10 liters of water). And after the flowers open – an organic infusion of mullein or bird droppings. After flowering, a mineral complex is needed (50 g per 1 sq. M). This alternation of nutrients well strengthens the vitality of the cherry.
Another subtlety: you can not take the root growth of a tree for planting. If it is grafted, then you can get a wild, not a variety.
Gardeners need to know that competent care and careful observance of agrotechnical recommendations will protect cherries from dropping ovaries. Therefore, you should once again be reminded of the possible reasons presented in the video:
Conclusion
The reasons why the cherry ovary falls can be not only removed, but also prevented. A caring attitude to the tree will certainly give the desired result.