At the Victorian Cherry Association (VCA) annual meeting in Tatura earlier this month, the guest speaker, Dr Bénédicte Wenden, discussed Cherry flowering—from Europe to your block.
Dr Wenden is a renowned French researcher investigating how cherry flowers respond to temperature and the molecular controls of dormancy and flowering.
Her work has utilised a large and varied European dataset to unpack some of the challenges to flowering in cherries.
Dr Rebecca Darbyshire has recently collated a smaller but similar dataset from Australian growers regarding flowering timing across the country, and how different growing regions—including several in Victoria—have recorded differences in flowering based on both winter chill and spring heat.
Both researchers presented interesting sets of data in relation to cherry flowering and timing, and how it is affected by climate and location, across a range of cherry varieties.
Dormancy breakers
Dormancy breakers and their possible influence on flowering were also discussed.
A new dormancy breaker is being developed in Europe but is not yet registered.
Determining bud break
Attendees were informed about an interesting link that is useful in determining bud break in your area.
It is a joint effort between the Qld Government and Hort Innovation. Visit: hort-science.shinyapps.io/ChillCalculator/ and just follow the instructions.
Although the buds have already broken this season, it will be a useful resource in the future.
Orchard walk
An orchard walk centred on two different high-density cherry plantings in the area.
At Turnbull’s orchard, a close-planted double-row system using a vertical leader with horizontals trained on wires, looked very promising.
Both Chris and Alex were there to inform the well attended group.
At Pickworth’s orchard, Stuart showed the group a close-planted, vertical single-row, also trained horizontally on wire support.
Both systems were not pedestrian orchards but made use of the productive height that the poles and wires allowed, plus the future possibility of rain covers could be a likely addition.
Both systems were well pruned, removing the larger limbs prior to flowering to gain the advantage of light through the canopy.
For growers with smaller land holdings or limited water supply, both systems show promise—provided they are maintained by removing unwanted wood and with the renewal of fruiting wood—which is true of any cherry growing system.
See this article in Tree Fruit Oct 2018
