How to Grow Cherry Fruit Trees
Cherries are one of the most popular fruits. Growing cherry trees is easy.
Perhaps the biggest problem is keeping the birds from beating you to the
harvest. It can also be difficult to bring in a bowl of cherries from
the tree. They get eaten before they get to the house!
Cherry trees can grow 20-30 feet tall, or more. They produce a profusion
of blooms in early spring. Cherry blossom time is a cause for celebration
in many areas of the country. The fruit matures early in the season,
and is harvested in late spring.
There are two basic types of cherries:
-
Sweet Cherries - The ones you eat fresh from your tree. Home gardeners prefer
sweet cherries that they can eat fresh.
-
Sour Cherries - commonly used in baking . Most sour cherry trees are grown
in orchards by farmers.
If you don't know the difference between a sweet and a sour cherry,
taste a fresh one of each.....then you'll know for certain!!!
Wood from cherry trees is hard. It makes excellent lumber for furniture.
It also is good as wood for your fireplace.
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Propagation of Cherry Trees:
Cherry trees are grown from seeds. The pit, or seed, in the center of each
cherry is capable of producing a tree. If you discard some cherry pits into
a flower garden, you may find young seedlings growing there the following
year.
Nowadays, most homeowners and gardeners buy young cherry trees from
a garden store. The trees are usually 4' to 8' tall, and gives you a few
years head start towards your first crop.
You can also graft cherry branches onto other fruit trees.
Planting Cherry Trees:
Transplant young cherry tree saplings into your yard or garden in the spring
or summer. Most likely, the container of the tree you purchased, is made
of a bio-degradable, heavy peat material. After planting, it will soften
and break down in the moist soil, allowing the roots to easily penetrate
it and grow. If the container is plastic or some other material, you will
need to remove the roots from it during planting.
Dig a hole about three times as big and deeper than the root ball. Mix in
plenty of rich compost into the hole, along with fresh, rich soil.
If it is in a peat container, cut slits in the container to speed up its
decomposition, and to help the roots to emerge easier.
Plant the chery tree to a depth equal to where it is in the container. Do
not plant it deeper.
Fill in around the roots with a mixture of compost and soil. Tamp down the
soil around the tree.
If planted in a windy area, stake the tree so it will grow straight.
Water well and deeply. Repeat deep watering frequently, to help new roots
to grow and spread.
How to Grow Cherry Trees:
Once your cherry tree is established, it should grow well with little attention.
Fruit tree fertilizer spikes for the first few years, will help
young trees to get off to fast, healthy start.
Each spring, before buds open, apply a dormant oil fruit tree spray. This
will kill a variety of insects. Apply a fruit tree spray frequently during
the season, if you have problems with insects or disease. We strongly recommend
you avoid spraying near harvest time. In all cases, follow the directions
on the label for application and use.
Pruning Cherry Trees:
Like other plants, pruning your cherry tree is healthy for it. This should
be done by early spring, before the new year's growth begins.
Prune the tree yearly, to remove dead or unhealthy branches and limbs. Also
prune in areas where growth is very bushy. This will increase sunlight
and air penetration, to help the overall health and growth of the
tree. You can also prune branches to maintain a shapely looking tree.
Annual pruning will help keep your tree smaller and more manageable, too.
Controlling Birds in Cherry Trees:
If you don't work to keep birds from getting to your cherry tree, you stand
to lose a serious portion of the harvest. Here are some methods that other
home gardeners have used:
Pest Netting - Smaller trees can be wrapped in netting. It is very effective
until the tree grows so big that it becomes impractical to cover it.
Aluminum Pie tins on a string - its an old favorite. But, it can be irritating
to you and the neighbors.
Noise Makers- Anything that is loud and sporadic will startle the birds.
Fake Predators - Plastic and blow-up owls and snakes
More Information:
Buy Cherry Trees
More on Bird Control
Buy Jobe Fruit Tree Spikes
Buy Pest Netting
Buy Cherry Trees
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