Growing sweet cherries has gained new momentum.
More varieties are now available that have superior qualities, are self-fertile, can extend the harvest season to more than eight weeks, and the fruit are more resistant to rain-cracking.
Other factors that have contributed to a resurgence in cherry growing all over the world are:
- New high density orchard systems which promise early and high yields of fruit of good quality.
- New methods to create fruiting branches, and to prune and train young trees to increase early fruitfulness.
- The introduction and evaluation of size-controlling rootstocks.
- New methods to reduce rain cracking of fruit.
- More reliable control of damage by birds.
- Modified atmosphere packaging.
- Better management of pests and diseases.
The manual deals mainly with how to start and maintain cherry trees in several intensive orchard systems.
A section on varieties has been included to help you decide which ones to plant.
The manual describes in detail how to use Cytolin (called Promalin overseas) to promote fruiting branches.
The manual also mentions rootstocks, bacterial canker, rain, birds, pollination, fruit quality, and spur development as they form part of the overall management strategy.
Many pictures and drawings illustrate the methods of promoting fruiting branches and training the trees—needed to establish the foundation of the four high density orchard systems discussed in our other manual, Sweet cherries—high density orchard systems.
