Do you like cherries? They taste delicious, right? In addition, they serve to calm the stomach, even temporarily. However, there is nothing like the taste of your freshly harvested food, so I am going to explain when to plant a cherry tree. A very beautiful fruit tree that you can enjoy throughout the year.
And for that to be possible, it is necessary to know it a little. In this way, it will be located in an area suitable for it, in one where it will grow correctly and in which it can be seen in all its splendor.
What is the cherry tree like?
Image - Wikimedia / Prazak
El Prunus avium (This is how it is known in botanical jargon), it is one of the most decorative deciduous trees that we can find. With a height of about 30 meters and a crown diameter of 3 meters which can even be pruned to take up less space, We will brighten up the garden with its beautiful flowers, in summer we will taste its delicious fruits and in autumn we will see how its leaves turn orange before falling. Only during the coldest season of the year will it seem to us that it is lifeless, although if it is well formed it can look very beautiful without leaves.
The leaves are simple, ovate to oblong in shape, have crenate or serrated margins and, if conditions are right, turn orange in autumn. With a size of 6 to 15 centimeters in length by 3 to 8 centimeters in width, they are quite large, something that is interesting since they are also produced in large numbers, making the cherry tree a magnificent shade tree.
Its flowers appear before the leaves, or together with these. They are white in color and measure 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter. They are not self-fertile. For pollination to take place, they resort to pollinating insects, such as bees.
The fruits are red or blackish red drupes depending on the variety. They are globose, with very thin skin and light orange-red flesh. They can be eaten fresh without problems: their taste is acidic but pleasant. They are also used to make jams, or as part of fruit salad for example.
When to plant a cherry tree?
For everything to go well from the beginning it is important to know when to plant it. As it is a tree resistant to frost, we can transfer it to our garden or orchard in autumn - as long as there will not be freezing temperatures in the next 2-3 months - or, if we prefer, after winter.
How to plant a cherry tree?
The step by step to follow is as follows:
Choose the location.
Before planting it, we will choose a place where it will receive sunlight throughout the day, at a minimum distance of 2 (better if they are 3 so that it can have an excellent development) meters from walls and / or other tall plants. In this way, our cherry tree will not have any impediment to grow and develop properly.
The soil must be rich in organic matter, and it is also important that it does not have a tendency to compact too much, otherwise the roots would have difficulties to grow well and the tree would suffer.
Dig the hole
Once the area where it will be planted has been chosen, it is time to put on the gardening gloves and make the hole with the help of a hoe. You could also use an excavator if you have one, but I really don't consider it necessary unless, due to health problems, you can't do it any other way.
Fill it with water
You have to add one or two buckets of water so that, when the cherry tree is planted, it is already in the moistened soil.. This will also help you to know if you have a soil with good drainage, something that you will know if you see that the water begins to be absorbed from the moment you pour it in.
To go well, it shouldn't take more than 30-35 minutes to absorb all the water. If it takes longer, make the hole deeper and then add a layer of about 40 centimeters of volcanic clay, expanded clay, or the like.
Fill it with soil
Now you have to put mulch mixed with 30% perlite in the hole. Throw in all that is necessary. Just take into account both the height of the pot, and that the surface of the tree's root ball must be about two centimeters below the ground level.
Put the cherry plant in the hole
Then carefully remove the cherry tree and insert it into the hole. If you see that it is too high or too low, feel free to remove or add more mulch to make it look good.
When it comes to saving water, it is interesting that it is always a little below it as this way the water will remain concentrated in the tree, so it can be better used.
Finish filling
The last step is finish filling the hole with dirt, and if you want to water a little to moisten this new earth that has been thrown. On the other hand, if you live in a very windy area, it is advisable to put a tutor on it until its roots have become well anchored in the ground.
Enjoy your cherry tree 🙂.