Cherry farming requires patience and careful management, as cherry trees typically take several years to mature and produce a significant yield. While the trees may begin flowering earlier, they usually do not provide a rewarding harvest until their sixth or seventh year. During this period, skilled growers focus on proper care, including pruning, pest management, and ensuring optimal soil and climate conditions. This investment of time and effort is crucial for developing healthy, productive trees that will offer high-quality cherries in the long term.
Classification
Kingdom : Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom : Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Superdivision : Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division : Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Class : Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Subclass : Rosidae
Order : Rosales
Family : Rosaceae
Genus : Prunus
Species : avium (sweet), cerasus (sour)
Two types of Cherry
I. Sweet Cherry
Cherries, specifically Prunus avium, are diploid plants with a chromosome number of 2n = 2x = 16.
II. Sour Cherry
Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) is a tetraploid species with a chromosome number of 2n = 4x = 32. It is believed to have originated as a hybrid between Prunus avium and Prunus fruticosa.
Climatic requirements
Cherries thrive in temperate climates and have specific climatic requirements for optimal growth. They require a chilling period ranging from 700 to 1,400 hours, which is essential for breaking dormancy. A dry and cool climate is ideal, particularly with low humidity and minimal precipitation during the summer months. Additionally, it is crucial to avoid freezing temperatures during the blooming period, as this can negatively impact fruit development.
Soil requirements
Cherry trees thrive best in deep, sandy loam soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5. For successful cultivation, the soil should be fertile, well-drained, and capable of retaining moisture. Since cherry trees are sensitive to water stagnation, good internal drainage is essential. Heavy or compacted soils should be avoided to ensure healthy growth and optimal fruit production.
Planting
Cherry trees should be planted using either a hexagonal or square orchard design. The planting site should provide 6–8 hours of sunlight daily. For optimal growth, it is advisable to apply 10–15 kg of well-rotted farmyard manure (FYM), along with 50 g of bone meal and 50 g of Trichoderma viride per plant. Additionally, applying chemical fertilizers three months after planting is recommended for better results.
For sweet cherries
Planting distance should be kept at 35 to 40 feet apart, and dwarf varieties should be kept at 5 to 10 feet apart.
For Sour cherries
Standard trees should be spaced 20 to 25 feet apart, while dwarf varieties should be planted at distance of 8 to 10 feet.
Fertilizers requirement for Cherry Farming
Gardeners should note that fertilizing cherry trees does not necessarily result in increased fruit production; instead, nitrogen-heavy fertilizers often promote foliage growth. Fertilize the tree only if its growth is slow—less than 20.5 cm per year. In such cases, use a balanced granulated fertilizer like 10-10-10. The quantity depends on the tree’s age, with 45.5 g of nitrogen applied each year since planting, up to a maximum of one pound (453.5 g). Always follow the package instructions for safe application.
Fertilizer should be evenly spread around the tree, starting from near the trunk and extending beyond the tree’s dripline. Avoid broadcasting fertilizer close to or in contact with the trunk, as this can damage the tree. Proper application ensures the tree receives the nutrients it needs without adverse effects.
Similar Content: The Ultimate Guide to Blueberry Farming.
Botany
Plant
The cherry plant is monoecious and deciduous, characterized by its seasonal shedding of leaves and having both male and female reproductive organs on the same plant.
Sweet Cherry
The sweet cherry is a vigorously growing, tall tree with an upright growth habit. It can reach a height of up to 35 meters and develop a trunk girth of up to 1.5 meters. However, it is often maintained at a desirable size for easier management and cultivation.
Sour Cherry
The sour cherry typically grows as a shrub or bush, exhibiting minimal upright growth. It features thin, long branches that often hang down gracefully.
Leaves
The leaves are alternately arranged and feature simple reticulate venation. They are ovoid-acute in shape, reaching up to 15 cm in length and 8 cm in width, with serrated margins and an acuminate tip. The petiole is green or reddish and bears two to five small red glands. Sour cherry leaves have nectaries, while sweet cherry leaves do not.
Flower bud
Cherry flower buds are produced on two-year-old wood or at the base of one-year-old shoots. They are exclusively lateral and consist solely of flower buds, without mixing with vegetative buds.
Inflorescence
The inflorescence is either a fascicle or a corymb.
Flower
The flower is perigynous, consisting of five sepals, five petals, and a single carpel. It has a superior ovary containing a single ovule.
Pollination
Most sweet cherry varieties are self-unfruitful due to self-incompatibility and therefore require cross-pollination for fruit set. However, some varieties, such as ‘Sweetheart’ and ‘Staccato,’ are self-compatible.
Pollinator
To ensure effective pollination, it is recommended to have a minimum of three pollinator species, with pollinator trees making up approximately 20% of the orchard. These trees should be distributed in narrow blocks with only a few rows to maximize cross-pollination efficiency. In contrast, most sour cherry varieties are self-fruitful or self-fertile, meaning they do not require additional pollinator species to produce fruit.
Fruit
Drupe or stone fruit
Popular Cultivars
Regina
The Regina cherry variety, developed through a cross in 1957 at Jork, Germany, has achieved worldwide distribution. It performs exceptionally well when grown on GiSeLa 5 rootstock but is self-incompatible, requiring cross-pollination. Regina is characterized by its late maturation and produces large, firm fruits weighing around 12.0 grams. Additionally, it has a low susceptibility to cracking, making it a reliable choice for commercial cultivation.
Sweetheart
The Sweetheart cherry variety is known for its late maturation and smaller-sized fruits. Despite their size, the cherries are exceptionally sweet, making this variety a popular choice among consumers who prefer intensely flavored fruit.
Sam
The Sam cherry variety matures early and produces medium to large-sized fruits. These cherries are less sweet compared to other varieties and have a softer texture, making them suitable for those who prefer milder flavors and tender fruit.
Other cultivars: Hedelfinger, Staccato, Kordia, Merchant, Burlat, Adriana
Propagation
Rootstock
Sweet Cherry Rootstock
Sweet cherry trees are traditionally cultivated on vigorous mazzard rootstocks such as Prunus avium, F12/1, or Alkavo. These rootstocks support planting densities ranging from 100 to 300 trees per hectare, with spacing variations of 10 x 10 meters to 5 x 3 meters. Trees grown on these rootstocks are self-supporting, thrive in heavy clay soils, and have a remarkable lifespan of 50 to 100 years, making them a reliable choice for long-term orchard production.
Disadvantages
- Late yielding
- High labor requirement for pruning, crop protection, harvest
- Often poor quality, undersized fruit
- Impossible to intensify (Bird netting, rain shelters)
GiSeLa – Rootstocks for Sweet cherry.
- Gießener Selektion Ahrensburg
- Rootstocks from crosses of P. cerasus, P. canescens, P. fruticosa, P. avium
Gisela 3
Gisela 3 is the most dwarfing among the Gisela rootstocks, known for its exceptional productivity. It is particularly suited for cultivation in controlled environments such as rain shelters, tunnels, and greenhouses, ensuring optimal growth and yield.
Gisela 5
Gisela 5 is a dwarfing rootstock widely distributed across the globe, derived from a cross between Prunus cerasus and Prunus canescens. It supports high-density planting, accommodating up to 1,000 trees per hectare. Renowned for its productivity and precocity, Gisela 5 thrives under control conditions such as rain shelters, tunnels, and greenhouses. However, it is not self-supporting and requires additional structural support for optimal growth.
Rootstock for Sour cherry
Rootstocks for sour cherry cultivation include clonal varieties such as Mazzard (Prunus avium), with commonly used types like F12/1 and Alkavo. In the past, Prunus mahaleb was also utilized as a rootstock option.
Maturity
Sweet cherries reach maturity approximately 70 to 90 days after full bloom, with earlier maturing varieties like Sam and later ones like Regina. Fully ripe fruits develop a dark red color, though yellow cultivars are also available. Key quality parameters include fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), sugar-to-acid ratio, and overall taste, which contribute to their desirability.
Harvesting
Harvesting methods for cherries vary based on their type and intended use. Sweet cherries, primarily grown for the fresh market, are typically harvested by hand to ensure the fruit’s quality and minimize damage. Different cultivars may also require specific hand-picking techniques. In contrast, sour cherries are almost exclusively harvested for processing and are often gathered mechanically to accommodate large-scale production needs.
Storage
Cherry storage practices are designed to preserve quality and extend shelf life, particularly for late cultivars destined for high-end markets. After harvesting, cherries are sorted in ice water to maintain freshness and reduce field heat. They are then stored at around 0°C, which can keep them viable for up to six weeks. Depending on market demands and destination, cherries are shipped using various methods, including air transport, ships, and trucks.
Cherry Insects
Sweet Cherry fruit fly
Rhagoletis cerasi
Susceptible: Sweet cherry, sour cherry
Symptoms
Brownish sunken punctures around fruit/stem juncture, larvae feeding in fruit.
Biology
Puppae overwinters in ground, oviposition, 300 to 400 eggs in 2 weeks, one larva per fruit, infested fruit more susceptible to brown rot
Spotted wing drosophila
Drosophila suzukii Susceptible: all soft and fleshy fruit
Symptoms
sunken and shriveled fruit surface, larvae in fruit, trapps
Biology
Overwintering as an adult, oviposition (2-10 eggs per fruit), from egg to pupae (incl hatch) 8 to 28 days, 5 to 8 (up to 15) generations per year
Control
- Spray insecticides,
- Netting mesh width (0.8 x 0.8 mm2)
FAQs
Q1. What is the best month to grow Cherries?
The best time to grow cherry trees is between March and May. Planting during winter is not recommended, as trees enter a dormant phase due to reduced sunlight, which hinders growth and establishment.
Q2. Why are cherries so expensive?
Cherries are expensive due to their short growing season, labor-intensive harvesting (often by hand to prevent damage), and sensitivity to weather conditions. They require careful handling, specialized storage, and rapid transportation to maintain quality. These factors, combined with high demand and limited supply, contribute to their high cost.
Q3. Where do cherries grow best in the world?
Major producers include the United States (especially Washington, Oregon, and California), Turkey, and European countries like Italy and Spain. These areas provide the ideal conditions of winter chill and warm summers needed for optimal cherry production.
