Watering cherries

If you want to get a good and stable crop of your cherries, you will need to properly water them. In order for watering cherries to have a positive effect, you need to know all the nuances associated with the process, how and in what quantity you need to do this.

Cherry is a perennial fruit crop. Depending on the shape of its aboveground part, it can be tree-like and bush-like.

The tree cherry is a single-stemmed tree, it can reach a height of up to 4 m. Fruiting most often occurs on bouquet branches, the laying of which depends on the length of the growth. Growth buds are found on annual branches of sufficient length (up to 40 cm). Next year, bouquet branches and growth shoots will begin to form from them. The arboreal cherry is less prone to branching out than the bushy cherry.

The bushy type of cherry can often have several trunks up to 3 m high. They are the owners of a spreading crown, numerous thin twigs. Fruiting on last year's growth. If the growth is weak, then, accordingly, this will affect the amount of harvest not only next year, but also subsequent years. Because if the shoot is short, then the laying of group or growth buds cannot occur. If the growth is good, with a length of up to 40 cm, then the laying of a lateral growth and group bud will occur. And it's safe to say that branching is getting better, the total number of buds is also getting larger. And accordingly, the amount of the harvest also increases.

In our country, the following varieties of cherries are more widespread:

• Vladimirskaya. Most often it grows in the North-West, Central, Volgo-Vyatka, Central Black Earth and Middle Volga regions.
• Youth. It was obtained in Moscow by crossing such varieties as Lyubskaya and Vladimirskaya. Found in central regions.
• Turgenevka. The variety was first created in the city of Orel. It is a seedling from free pollination of such a variety as Zhukovskaya. Most often found in the Central, Central Black Earth, North Caucasian regions.

Watering cherries: how to do it right

The procedure for watering cherries has a number of certain nuances, which in turn depend on weather conditions, the phase of the growing season, and also on the age of the tree.

Watering cherries after planting

If you want to get a good and healthy harvest of cherries, then it is very important to know how to properly water the seedlings.

The first watering is carried out after planting the seedling in open soil (spring or autumn). Approximately 50 cm from the seedling, in the near-trunk circle, it is necessary to build a shallow ditch (depth not more than 50 cm) and add 2-3 buckets of water there. When all the moisture has been absorbed, it will be necessary to lightly compact the soil so that the moisture can better stay in the ground.

Then it is important to carry out the mulching procedure using dried grass, compost or humus. It also allows moisture to stay in the soil for longer, which will greatly help reduce the number and frequency of watering.

It is important to carry out the first watering within a few hours after you plant the seedling in the open ground. If this is not done, the plant may simply die. If the seedling survives, it will be weak, form a small number of fruits, poorly tolerate low temperatures, diseases and insect attacks.

Watering for the first time is best done with a watering can. This will help the moisture to be better distributed over the entire soil surface.If in summer the amount of precipitation was moderate, then it is important to irrigate when the topsoil is very dry.

If there was a lot of rain, then you need to wait a little with watering. Conversely, if the summer is dry, then the number of waterings should be increased. For each watering, you will need 10-15 liters of settled warm water. It is important that the water can reach the lowest roots.

When adding water to the trunk circle, it is important that the root collar does not fall under the water. If, when you watered, some roots became visible, they must be backfilled with soil. Watering is best in the evening, when the sun has already set. This is very important so that the water can stay in the holes for more time and not dry out.

It is necessary to water with a watering can as long as the soil retains its density. Subsequently, you can switch to watering with a hose.

How to water a cherry at the age of 2-5

At this age, watering is no longer so important. Watering begins to acquire its significance only in some cases:

• High air temperature.
• Dry weather, no precipitation for a long time.

The soil constantly dries up due to the fact that the cherry was planted in a sunny place. Many are worried about the question of whether it is possible to water the cherry when it has already bloomed. It's safe to say yes. This should be done at the moment when it blooms.

Watering is also necessary when the ovaries are forming. If the plant does not have enough moisture, then the next time you can water it when the berries start pouring. But no later than 15 days before you start harvesting.

Otherwise, the process of cracking the fruit may begin. There is no need to water the plant in spring, since it already has enough moisture. In the springtime, you need to water the cherries in the same way as the cherries of the first year of life.

It is best to reduce the frequency of watering during this period. At this age, the cherry begins to form its spreading root system, which is in dire need of full breath. If there is an excess of moisture, then this process may be disrupted. The roots can start to rot, which can lead to the death of the tree.

If you notice that dry leaves have appeared on the tree, then as soon as possible you need to loosen the soil of the trunk circle. After this procedure, the plant will come to life.

To make it more convenient to water, many summer residents recommend building 2 circular grooves under the crown, keeping a distance of about 50 cm between each other. The groove that is closer to the tree should be no more than 10 cm deep. This is necessary so that the root system of the plant is not harmed. The depth of the other groove can be no more than 20 cm.

Watering cherries 5-15 years

At this age, the need for watering is generally minimized. It is carried out only if the weather conditions are very dry and when the plant is about to bloom. For trees of this age, watering in the autumn becomes important.

As soon as leaf fall ends, you can water the culture. It may be late September or early October, depending on the region. If possible, then you need to water every day, for 7 days, 2 liters of water.

This will allow the plant to better prepare for the winter period so that neither the bark nor the root system is damaged. This must be borne in mind when you are going to grow cherries. After all, it does not have strong immunity against low winter temperatures.

Watering cherries over 15 years old

It is important for trees of this age to irrigate with the simultaneous introduction of mineral fertilizing. To achieve greater efficiency, many summer residents advise making 5-6 small pits, the depth of which is no more than ¼ meter in different places of the trunk circle.

They need to add nutrients and cover with soil. Then, on the plot or in the garden, you can build a sprinkler. It will allow the soil of the trunk circle to be moistened.This top dressing retains its properties for 3 years.

We carry out the sprinkling procedure

This procedure is carried out when the weather is very dry and hot outside. It works well for both young and mature trees. This procedure is best done in the evening or very early in the morning. Better if the weather is cloudy.

Sprinkling is not recommended in the daytime and hot weather. Because if water droplets remain on the surface of the leaves, then severe sunburn can form. Sprinkling also has a good effect on resistance to winter frost.

The effect of such a procedure will become noticeable when there is a sharp jump in temperature. In this case, the sprinkling procedure is best done in the evening and should be extended overnight until dawn.

Taking care of cherries

If you do not take proper care of cherries, then they can be subject to various diseases:

• Coccomycosis.
• Moniliosis.
• The milky shine.
• Verticillosis.
• Clasterosporium disease.

Also cherries can be attacks of various insects:

• Cherry flies.
• Cherry weevil.
• Cherry aphid.
• Beetle larvae.
• Slimy sawfly.

Pest control is carried out using various fungicides and insecticides. Often there are situations when other trees can only be saved by cutting and removing an infected tree from a site (in case of a viral disease). This will help stop the spread of the disease throughout the site or garden.

Cherries love both organic and mineral fertilizers... During the autumn digging of the soil, it is best to add phosphorus and potassium. With the onset of spring, during the first loosening of the soil, it is advisable to apply complex and nitrogen fertilizers.

If you carry out all the necessary actions correctly and in due time, then you can get a healthy and rich harvest of cherries for a long time. Do not forget about the number and frequency of watering.