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The Tart Cherry Industry - continued
Environmental Requirements and Production Practices
Climate
Climate, particularly the temperature range in an area, is the most
important factor affecting the geographic distribution of tart cherry
production. Generally, tart cherry trees do not thrive in the
southern and central states where summers are long and hot.
Areas
with winters that are characterized by periods of alternately high
and low temperatures can also be detrimental to cherry trees. The
trees break dormancy during warm periods, and may subsequently be
damaged by low temperatures that can cause splitting of the trunks
and limbs. Several years may be required for the injured bark and
cambial tissues on afflicted trees to heal.
Extremely low winter temperatures also may damage tart cherry fruit
buds. Further, late spring frosts are incompatible with producing
tart cherries, as the blossoms and young fruit are very susceptible
to injury. Temperatures below 28o F can kill a high percentage of
unprotected blossoms and fledgling fruit (Fogle, et al.).
Soils
Tart cherries grow well on a wide range of soil types, provided that
the soil is well drained. Well-drained sandy loams and other sandy
soils are common in the important production areas. There also are
successful orchards located on well-drained clay loam soils.
Orchard Sites
Soils and climatic conditions are critical in the establishment of a
successful orchard. Tart cherries bloom comparatively early in the
spring, and the blossoms and fruit buds are readily damaged by
freezing temperatures. Locating the orchard in areas with good air
drainage helps reduce the chances of crop failure due to frost. This
is because cold air settles to lower levels, and orchards occupying
sites higher than the surrounding areas are less likely to be injured
by frost than those at the lowest elevations.
An additional
advantage of locating orchards on higher elevations is that the soil
on such sites is more likely to be well drained than soils at lower
elevations. Cherries thrive best on well-drained soils.
Large bodies of water also can reduce the chances of crop failure due
to frost. Orchard sites adjacent to large bodies of water are less
likely to suffer frost damage to the blossoms and fruit buds than
orchards on sites without water nearby. Large bodies of water, such
as the Great Lakes, provide a cooling effect during warm spring days,
which slows fruit bud development and delays the bloom period.
Later-blooming trees are less likely to be damaged than earlierblooming
trees. In addition, large bodies of water provide a local
warming effect during cold spring nights, diminishing the likelihood
of freezing temperatures in adjacent orchards.
Propagation and Planting
Tart cherry trees are propagated by grafting budwood from a desired
variety onto a seedling rootstock. Most cherry growers buy budded
trees from commercial nurserymen, and do not graft their own trees.
Two kinds of seedling rootstock are in general use--the Mahaleb and
the Mazzard. The Mahaleb is used more extensively than the Mazzard.
The Mazzard rootstock, however, is more tolerant of wet soil
conditions, such as might occur on heavier soils, than is the
Mahaleb. Several Mahaleb X Mazzard crosses, which possess desirable
attributes of both parents, have been developed and are recommended
in some areas.
Generally, fall is the best time of the year to plant young trees.
Fall planting gives the roots a chance to become established before
the trees bud out in the spring. Spring planting, however, has
proven satisfactory in areas where extremely severe winters may kill
newly-planted young trees.
Cherry trees are planted 16 to 24 feet apart, depending on the soil
and the variety. Eighteen feet is a typical spacing in Michigan
(Longstroth).
Cherry trees begin to bear small amounts of fruit about five years
after planting and continue to produce for 20-25 years. Thus, the
typical life cycle of an orchard is 25-30 years.
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