How to plant cherries?

A private garden is the dream of every summer resident. The splendor of spring flowering, the benefits of fresh, environmentally friendly fruits and berries in summer, homemade jams and compotes in winter - for this it is worth planting garden crops on your site.

Even if the area of ​​the available land does not allow setting up a large garden, you can always limit yourself to at least 2-3 types of fruit plants, for example, cherries, apples and pears. How to grow a beautiful cherry tree from a young seedling - further in the article.

For guaranteed survival of a cherry seedling in a summer cottage, all basic requirements should be strictly observed during planting, including timing. Planting dates depend on the climatic characteristics of the region. Cherry is a thermophilic plant, therefore it is very important that its root system has time to adapt to new conditions before frost.

For the regions of the south and central Russia, both spring and autumn plantings are suitable. It is advisable for residents of the northern regions of the country to plant cherries in open ground only in the spring. For example, if you plant cherry seedlings in the fall in the Kuban or in the Moscow region, then the plants will have time to take root before the first frost.

And if the autumn planting of cherries is carried out in the Leningrad region or in the Urals, then it is unlikely that it will be successful.

• Spring... Planting cherry seedlings in spring is best done before the plants begin to wake up and bud. But at the same time, warm weather should be established outside (+ 10 ... + 15 ° С during the day) without the threat of frost. The end of April is considered the ideal period for the central regions of Russia. At this time, the temperature of the air and soil reaches optimal values ​​for this crop.
• Autumn... In autumn, the first half of October will be a good time for planting cherries. In the south, gardening work can continue until mid-November.

Of course, the success of planting largely depends not only on environmental factors, but also on the quality of the planting material itself. The choice of seedlings should be taken very seriously and carefully. Cherry seedlings are available with open and closed root systems. The difference is that an open root system does not imply the presence of a pot or some other container in which a young plant is planted. Such a seedling has the advantage: you can see its roots well at the time of acquisition. But you need to plant it immediately after purchase, as well as strictly on time - in April or October.

A plant with a closed root system is planted in a pot. The big advantage of such seedlings is that they can be planted all season, from April to October. As many as 8 months to land. And also in the pot, the roots of the plant are better preserved, since in this case they are less susceptible to drying out and damage. Here are some practical tips to help you choose the right cherry for planting.

You should always buy seedlings only in proven places. Better if it is a special fruit tree nursery: there they are engaged in the cultivation of plants, and not in their resale. This helps the specialists of the garden center to prepare and preserve high-quality planting material. When buying cherries from a nursery with a good reputation, there is no need to fear that the purchased product will not be what it was announced.

Novice gardeners should not hesitate to ask questions to the garden center sales assistant. It is very important to ask him in detail about the characteristics of the plant:

• what grade it is;
• when flowering occurs;
• when the first fruits ripen;
• how is pollinated;
• whether vaccinated;
• what kind of care it requires;
• how she gets through the winter.

You should not mindlessly buy the first tree that the consultant offers, or one of the available ones that looks more profitable compared to the rest. Before buying, you should take a good look at the plant to make sure that it is really healthy. The roots of a healthy plant are moist, white-green, and do not show signs of rot. You need to look at the tree itself: it should not have growths and damage. It is very important that the bark is intact. One of the main conditions is the absence of any foliage on the seedlings and the flexibility of the branches when pressed.

You should refuse to buy large seedlings that already have a large number of shoots and high growth. Such plants do not always take root after planting. It is better to give preference to very young trees with a closed root system. One-year-old cherry looks rather fragile - growth is no more than 1 meter, short shoots (up to 8-10 pieces). But this should not be scary: as a rule, it is from such delicate plants that strong healthy trees grow. Their root system very quickly adapts to new conditions, so the seedling begins to grow actively.

There are situations in which seedlings are acquired in late autumn, when it no longer makes sense to plant them in the ground. In such cases, they should be dug at an angle into a hole, the depth of which is 40 cm, and then watered and insulated. Trees with a closed root system are buried in along with the pot. Before planting in the spring, when the threat of frost has passed, the plants can be excavated and planted in a place prepared for this.

When choosing a site for cherries, it should be remembered that these trees do not tolerate any transplants very well. Therefore, it is recommended to plant them immediately in the place where it will grow constantly. You need to approach this issue responsibly, because if everything is done according to the rules, then the tree will actively bear fruit for 15-20 years. First you need to decide on the soil. Cherries love light and loose enough soil. It grows well on loam and sandy loam soil. The acidity index (pH) of the soil should be in the range of neutral or slightly acidic values. Cherries should not be planted in an area where groundwater is located at the surface at a depth of less than one and a half meters. If the water is very close, the root system of the tree can rot.

Heat-loving cherry is very happy with the light, so the area where it will grow should be sunny, preferably on the southern and windless side. This culture does not like drafts and cold winds. Fulfillment of these requirements will have a beneficial effect on the harvest - the fruits will be bright, juicy and early ripening. If you plan to plant several cherries at once in one area, then you should choose a larger area. The distance between two seedlings should be at least 3 meters. If the cherry grows at the edge of the site, then when planting it, you should retreat 1-2 meters from the fence.

Apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, cherry plums, mountain ash, hawthorn, grapes, as well as cherries of other varieties will become excellent cherry neighbors. The main thing is that the varieties are not tall, otherwise the trees will shade each other. In the shade of a good harvest from cherries, you can not expect.

By planting an elderberry next to the cherry, you can cope with attacks on the cherry aphid tree.Elderberry with its smell scares away this pest from cherries. If you want to plant bushes of any berry crops under the cherry, you should not do this, since deep digging can damage the root system of the tree, which is located quite close to the surface. You can gently loosen the ground under the tree and plant perennial ground cover plants that love partial shade. For example, periwinkle, which will soon create a carpet of bright greenery.

If there are already tall, spreading trees on the site, then the cherry should be planted away from them. For example, the distance from a pear or apple tree should be at least 6-10 m so that they do not shade the cherry. And such plant giants as oak, birch, linden or maple should not coexist with a cherry tree at all. Other unsuccessful neighbors for the culture in question will be vegetables of the nightshade family. Peppers, tomatoes, eggplants - all this should not be planted next to cherries. These vegetables can be carriers of diseases that the tree is susceptible to.

The planting hole is where the plant is directly planted. It must be prepared in the selected area a couple of weeks before the planned planting. It is not so important whether it is autumn or spring. However, a spring planting pit can be made in advance - in the fall. Hole size for one-year cherry seedling:

• width not less than 70 cm;
• depth - 55-60 cm.

If the fertility of the soil is in doubt, then the pit should be made wider. After digging a hole, a long peg should be placed in it so that it protrudes from it by 70 cm.A mound of good soil with fertilizers should be poured onto the bottom of the hole (it will not be superfluous to use humus).

As a rule, fertilizing is applied during the planting of seedlings. Organic and mineral compounds should be added to the planting pit. From organic matter, humus (1 bucket) or compost (1 bucket) is perfect. As for mineral fertilizers, they can be applied to the hole at the same time as organic matter. Granules of superphosphate (300 g) and potassium sulfate (100 g) will fall to the spot. The amount of fertilizer is indicated per planting hole.

After the autumn planting, the tree needs to be spud so that a small hill of earth forms around it. If desired, you can cover it for the winter with a layer of organic mulch or spruce branches to protect it from rodents. If a spring planting is planned, then you can fertilize the soil not only during it, but also in advance - in the fall. To do this, in September-October, the selected area must be thoroughly cleaned of weeds and dug deep.

Planting trees is a good and simple matter, but each seedling needs a certain approach. Cherry planting also has its own characteristics. What - further in the text. Cherry is a plant that is not prone to self-pollination. This must be taken into account when planting, therefore, it is correct to place a couple of stone fruit crops next to each other for mutual pollination.

The distance between the cherries should be 2.5-3 meters. You can plant plants in a checkerboard pattern. This will be more correct. So, the seedlings were selected and purchased, the planting holes were dug, fertilizers were applied - you can start planting. Let's consider the options.

The young plant should be placed vertically in one of the prepared pits - on a cushion of soil mixed with fertilizers, strictly in the center, next to the peg. The root collar should protrude a couple of centimeters from the hole. You should carefully spread the roots and lightly press them to the ground without damaging.

Gradually bring soil into the pit, filling it tightly from all sides, leaving no voids. At the same time, you can water the ground with water. When the hole is completely filled up, the soil should be well compacted on the surface, the seedling should be tied to a peg and watered.

First you need to remove the plant from the pot along with the soil. This should be done as carefully as possible so as not to damage the root system. To simplify the task, it is recommended to pre-water the plant. This will make it much easier to remove from the pot.... After that, you can bury the seedling vertically into the hole. If there is a graft on the tree, then it must remain above the ground. You need to plant together with an earthen clod from a pot. The surface of the earthen coma should be at ground level when planting. Planting should be completed with a garter and watering the plant.

It must be remembered that the root collar must always remain above the ground.... The soil around the young tree can be mulched with sawdust with the addition of humus. If planting takes place in the autumn months, then after it you need to huddle the plant so that an earthen lump up to 30 cm high forms around it.

In order for a young plant to take root, it needs proper care. You should not neglect its main stages, since the quality of future crops depends on this. It is necessary to organize proper watering for the cherry, given that it has enough rainfall, and in addition it requires water only three times per season. In the spring, when the cherry blossoms, the tree must be watered. Then repeat this action during the ripening period of the berries. The third watering is done only in autumn, when the foliage begins to fall on the tree.

The degree of soil moisture depends on the weather. On average, one tree requires up to 5 buckets of water. During drought, the need for frequency and volume of watering may increase. You need to focus on the condition of the soil and its composition. The seedling should be well watered immediately after planting. Experienced gardeners recommend feeding cherry trees twice a season. The first top dressing is applied during flowering. The second - 2 weeks after the first. Organic or mineral preparations can be used as fertilizers. For example, infusion of mullein and wood ash, superphosphate, potassium chloride. The first top dressing can be carried out by introducing organic fertilizers into the soil, the second - mineral fertilizers.

Cherry does not have the ability to self-pollinate. In order for the bees to more actively gather near the tree and pollinate it, it is necessary to thoroughly spray the crown with water with honey dissolved in it during the flowering period. Correct planting also helps pollination - when several (2-3) varieties of stone fruit crops grow in one area at once. Important for cherries and pruning. This allows you to get rid of diseased, damaged and non-viable shoots, as well as give the tree a beautiful and neat shape. It is necessary to carry out pruning until the buds have awakened.

In the spring, whitewash the lower part of the trunks with a solution of lime. This helps to get rid of various diseases that the culture may be susceptible to (gum therapy, and so on). Spraying the tree in early spring with Bordeaux liquid will save you from coccomycosis. If you adhere to the basic rules of planting and caring for cherries, it can be successfully grown in the northern regions, where the spring is quite cool and the summer is short.