How To Grow Cherries / RHS Gardening

Newly planted cherry trees and those growing in containers need some regular attention to ensure they establish well and produce a good crop. Once established, trees in the ground need little ongoing maintenance other than pruning.

Watering

Established cherry trees in open ground shouldn’t need watering. Young cherry trees and trees grown in pots will need some additional watering throughout the growing season. Those trained against a wall may need some additional water.

• Newly planted cherry trees should be watered during dry spells for at least the first year
• Trees in containers need a steady supply of moisture throughout the growing season, so water regularly in dry spells, aiming to keep the compost Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. evenly moist. But never leave them standing in water, especially in winter, as roots in saturated compost can rot
• Fan-trained cherry trees may require some additional watering if they’re in a rain-shadow – where the wall or fence reduces the amount of rainfall they receive

Be careful not to overwater in summer though – too much watering or very wet weather can cause ripe fruits to split.

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Mulching

Apply a mulch Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings. of well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. , around cherry trees in late winter or spring. Mulching Mulch is a layer of material, at least 5cm (2in) thick, applied to the soil surface in late autumn to late winter (Nov-Feb). It is used to provide frost protection, improve plant growth by adding nutrients or increasing organic matter content, reducing water loss from the soil, for decorative purposes and suppressing weeds. Examples include well-rotted garden compost and manure, chipped bark, gravel, grit and slate chippings. will improve your soil, help to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

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Feeding

Cherry trees growing in regularly mulched soil shouldn't need any additional feeding. However, if harvests are particularly poor, or your tree is showing signs of nutrient deficiency, apply a granular fertiliser to the soil in early spring. Use our page on nutrient deficiencies to work out what is lacking and apply the recommended feed, following instructions on the packet.Cherries growing in containers benefit from regular feeding. Either apply an organic, high potassium liquid fertiliser every fortnight during the growing season (April to August), or sprinkle a granular, general-purpose fertiliser onto the compost Can refer to either home-made garden compost or seed/potting compost: • Garden compost is a soil improver made from decomposed plant waste, usually in a compost bin or heap. It is added to soil to improve its fertility, structure and water-holding capacity. Seed or potting composts are used for growing seedlings or plants in containers - a wide range of commercially produced peat-free composts are available, made from a mix of various ingredients, such as loam, composted bark, coir and sand, although you can mix your own. each spring.

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Protecting blossom and fruit

Cherry blossom is susceptible to frost damage, which can reduce the crop. So if your tree is small enough, cover plants with biodegradable/reused fleece A soft, fibrous, translucent material laid over or around plants hastening their growth and protecting them against weather and pests. Heavier grades of fleece give about 2°C of protection from frost. It is usually used without supporting hoops. or an old bedsheet to protect the blossom overnight if frost is forecast, then remove during the day so pollinating insects can reach the flowers. Potted trees can also be moved into a greenhouse, porch or other sheltered location to avoid frosts when in blossom.

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Protecting fruit from frostFleece and covers

Birds love to eat cherries, so before the fruit starts to colour up, it’s worth protecting some or all of the crop if your tree is small enough.

• Netting will help to deter birds – either cover the whole tree or individual branches with plastic-free or reused netting. Raise the netting above the fruits using bamboo canes or wood, such as hazel or chestnut poles. Ensure the netting is taut and fastened securely so birds and other wildlife don’t get entangled in it.
• Trees trained against a wall are much easier to protect with netting than free-standing trees
• A fruit cage is a great option to protect small cherry trees
• Trees in containers could be moved temporarily into a greenhouse, conservatory or other protected location while in fruit

Propagating

Cherry trees are generally propagated by grafting This involves joining the roots of one plant to the stem of another related plant, so they fuse together to form one plant. There are various methods, all requiring great skill. Grafting is mainly carried out by commercial growers to combine one plant’s qualities of flowering or fruiting (the upper section or scion) with the vigour or resilience of the other (the roots or rootstock). Fruit trees are often grafted, along with a few ornamental shrubs and trees, and in recent years grafted vegetable plants (mainly tomatoes, but also chillies, cucumbers, aubergines, etc) have become available. or budding, which are both quite skilled techniques but worth a try.

Growing cherry trees from seed or cuttings A method of growing new plants from parts of an existing plant, such as sections of root, stem, leaf or bud. When prepared correctly and planted in the right conditions, they can produce roots and eventually become independent plants. There is a wide range of different methods for taking cuttings, depending on the plant and time of year. is not usually worthwhile, as the resulting treeswill grow into much larger trees than those grafted onto a rootstock (which limits their size) and will be slower to start fruiting. There are also biosecurity Measures aimed at preventing the spread of potentially harmful organisms (pests, diseases or invasive species) into the environment. These include sourcing plants responsibly, quarantining new plants and practising good garden hygiene. risks associated with growing from the seed of supermarket-bought fruit, so this should be avoided.

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GraftingBudding