Cherry is a common and unpretentious inhabitant of gardens. Special efforts are not required for cultivation, but minimal care is still necessary.
The absence of fruits is not uncommon. Flowering ends, and the ovaries do not form or fall off.
There are many reasons for this. Let's look at the most significant ones.
Reasons for the lack of harvest
The following factors have a negative impact on cherry yield:
• planting in a shaded place (loves open, well-lit, sunny areas);
• incorrect deepening of the root collar (the distance from the ground surface should be 3 centimeters);
• “unpleasant” neighborhood (dislikes - apple tree, currant, honeysuckle, best companions - plum, cherry);
• very close groundwater level (roots cannot tolerate stagnant moisture);
• acidic soil (prefers neutral sandy loam soil);
• absence of pollinators (the presence of other cherry varieties is required for cross-pollination);
• flowering during frosts;
• low temperature during the formation of ovaries (at least 9 degrees Celsius is required);
• various diseases and pests;
• poor nutrition (poor soil, lack of fertilizer);
• excess of nitrogen fertilizer (the tree grows foliage to the detriment of the fruit).
An attentive gardener can easily determine the cause of the infertility of his trees by these signs. And knowing the cause will help solve the problem.
How to solve the problem
For a stable harvest, zoned cherry varieties are needed. If there are frequent frosts during flowering in the spring, it is better to choose a late-ripening variety.
When the night temperature drops to 5 degrees, it is necessary to cover the crown with non-woven material.
If the cherry tree grows in conditions of close groundwater, then you cannot do without good drainage canals. For new seedlings, you can pour an artificial hill.
Acidic soil is neutralized by adding ash, chalk or dolomite flour. You can evenly distribute humus in the tree trunk circle and dig it up.
For pollination, it is necessary to plant other varieties of cherries or sweet cherries (it is important that their flowering period coincides).
To attract pollinating insects, a sugar solution is sprayed on the flowers (20 grams of sugar per 1 liter of water).
During the flowering and fruiting period, regular fertilizing is done. Cherry needs the following elements:
• calcium (especially important for stone fruit crops for the formation of ovaries);
• phosphorus (strengthens the root system);
• potassium (improves the taste of berries – increases sweetness and juiciness);
• boron (for the “resistance” of flowers and ovaries).
Wood ash contains calcium, phosphorus and potassium. You can prepare a water infusion (10 tablespoons of ash per 10 liters, leave for 2 days).
Suitable mineral fertilizers include nitroammophoska (1.5 matchboxes per 10 liters of water) and calcium nitrate (2 tablespoons per 10 liters).
For abundant flowering and good fruit set, spray the trees with an aqueous solution of boric acid (dissolve 1 gram of powder in 10 liters).
It is also very important to treat the cherry tree with remedies against diseases and pests. You need to do this before the buds open, having previously covered the wounds with garden pitch and removed last year's foliage from the area.
For spraying use:
• urea (600 grams per 10 liters of water);
• Bordeaux mixture (300 grams of copper sulfate, 400 grams of slaked lime per 10 liters);
• ferrous sulfate (300 grams per 10 liters).
This procedure prevents the development of fungal diseases and destroys aphids and cherry flies.
The result of all the above actions will be a beautiful healthy garden with flowering trees and an abundant harvest.
You just need to be careful when choosing the variety, location and take the time to properly care for the plantings. Success will not be long in coming!
Earlier we told you what to do to ensure that cucumbers bear fruit all summer long.
