Here’s how to grow cherry trees in your own garden. Cherry trees are a sight to behold in the spring, when they’re covered in white or pink blossoms. After that they produce the delicious cherries most people know and love. see more here: https://goo.gl/BVIU4G
Planting
Plant cherries in the late fall or early spring (when the ground is soft and has a higher moisture content).
For sweet cherries make sure the different varieties will pollinate each other.
Plant in a sunny site with good air circulation; avoid planting near trees or buildings that shade.
Cherry trees need deep well drained soil.
Space sweet cherries 35 to 40 feet apart dwarfs 5 to 10 feet apart.
Space tart cherries 20 to 25 feet apart dwarfs 8 to 10 feet apart.
Set trees on standard rootstocks with the graft union a few inches below the soil level. Set trees on dwarf rootstock with the graft union several inches above the soil level.
When planting fan trained trees, construct the necessary supports before planting. Plant fans only 12 to 15 feet apart.
Care
There is no difference in care between sour and sweet cherries.
Apply mulch to retain moisture.
Drape netting over trees to protect the fruit from birds.
Water routinely in dry areas.
Thinning the fruit is not necessary for cherry trees, as they typically thin naturally in early summer.
Prune trees every year in late winter to encourage the growth of new fruiting wood. Don’t prune in the fall.
Fertilize each spring until trees start to bear, then fertilize only after harvest each season.
Harvesting and storage
Pick fruits only when FULLY ripe (dark red, black, yellow); the sugar content rises the few days before fully ripened.
Be ready to harvest within a week’s time. Eat or cook immediately.
Pick fruits when firm if they are to be frozen.
Be sure top pick with the cherry stem so you do not tear into the fruit, however, take care to lead the fruit spur to produce fruit next year.
Hand-picking may injure the shoots and cause infection; Cut the stalks with scissors.
Remember that cherry trees do not bear fruit until their fourth year. Thereafter, they should produce about 30 to 50 quarts of cherries each year.
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