6-inch Early Large Cherry Seedlings Introduction - Base Planting Area

Our country boasts a variety of cherry varieties, and when it comes to planting large cherries, the choice of variety is paramount. Despite the short season for cherry availability, cherries mature in three periods: early, mid, and late. They can be categorized by color into yellow, red, purplish-red, and deep red, with over a dozen varieties. Today, let's discuss the "Mei Zao" cherry variety and key planting points:

Meadow Sweet is an American variety introduced to our country in the 1990s, and it has dominated the market for nearly eight to nine years, with stable prices and consistently high demand. Its consumer recognition stems from the quality of the fruit, which is large in size, sweet in taste, and has now become synonymous with the large cherries in our country.

The Meizao large cherry is one of the most popular cherry varieties on the market. It boasts large size, thick flesh, and a rich, dark red appearance. The deeper the color, the better the taste. It has a sweet, delightful flavor and is considered a premium choice among cherries. As described in its introduction, this variety was bred in the United States and was introduced to China in 1996. It is highly resilient during storage and transportation and is an early-bearing, high-quality mid-season cherry variety. The average weight of a fruit is about 9 grams, with some larger fruits weighing up to 12 grams.

The 'Meizao' early large cherry has a heart-shaped fruit with a purple-red skin that glows. When fully ripe, it turns purple. The flesh is crisp, not soft, and thick with juice. It has a sweet and sour taste that is very enjoyable. These cherries typically ripen between May and June and are available for sale in June.

Early American cherry tree cultivation: Mid-early maturation, strong tree vigor, semi-spreading tree shape, with strong萌芽and branching abilities in young trees. Primarily bears fruit on medium and short fruit spurs and inflorescence-like fruit spurs; low self-fertilization rate, requiring pollination trees. Suitable pollination varieties include Samid, Pioneer, Rabinsk, etc., with an appropriate ratio of main variety to pollination variety of 3:1. Gisela No. 6 is used as the rootstock, suitable for dense planting. Bears fruit in the third year after planting, and reaches full production in the fifth year.

Cherry seedling planting period:

The planting period for cherry seedlings is generally divided into spring planting and autumn planting. Spring planting must be carried out as soon as possible after the soil thaws, usually around early March in the North China region. In the warm and humid south, autumn planting is preferable over spring planting. Autumn planting should be done after the leaves fall and before the soil freezes, ideally from late October to early November. In the North China region, it is recommended to plant early in spring. Besides the risk of early growth due to severe winter cold, cherry seedlings also have early germination and a slower root activity. Delaying the planting time can cause the upper canopy's water demand to far exceed the roots' supply, leading to withered seedlings, cracked bark, and even plant death.

Cherry seedling planting method:

Cherry seedlings require careful planting techniques. Before planting, dig holes or trenches according to the predetermined spacing. For hole planting, create pits that are 40-60 cm deep and wide. For trench planting, dig trenches approximately 40 cm deep and wide. When digging, separate topsoil from subsoil and place them separately. In the planting holes or trenches, backfill with 20 cm of mixed organic matter, such as leaves, straw, weeds, or farmyard manure, compacted with your feet. Then, add more topsoil to about 20 cm from the ground, leaving the center slightly higher than the sides. Place the seedlings in the holes (trenches), allowing the roots to spread out. As you backfill with soil, shake the seedlings and compact the soil with your feet to ensure good root-soil contact. To prevent tilting or being blown over after watering, stabilize the seedlings with stakes or bamboo poles. Water immediately, and after the water has渗入, create a small soil mound at the base of the seedling trunk or cover it with a 1-square-meter ground film. This method helps prevent frost and drought.

Cherry Seedling Cultivation Precautions:

Planting in fields with higher water levels requires first creating ridges, 20-30 cm high and 1-1.2 meters wide, before proceeding with the planting method. Due to the longer chilling requirement of large cherries, in warmer regions, the inverted greenhouse method should be used to extend their dormancy period, ensuring the required chilling for large cherries.