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1 2008 Printed and published by: Department of Agriculture Obtainable from: Resource Centre Directorate Agricultural Information Services Private Bag X144 PRETORIA 0001 Further information can be obtained from:Directorate Plant ProductionPrivate Bag X250 PRETORIA 0001 Tel: +27 12 319 6072 Fax: +27 12 319 6353 CherriesCherriesBackgroundOriginSweet cherries are indigenous to parts of Asia and native to Europe and are found in the Southern part of Sweden, Greece, italy and Spain. The first nation to cultivate cherries was Greece. In South Africa cherry production by commercial and small farmers is still rare. It is only grown in the Western Cape, Eastern Free State and and soil requirementsCherries require cold and long winter weather condi-tion with a long dormancy period of 7 C or below. Cherries prefer regions with a cool spring and a mild summer.

2 The tree grows very well on a wide range of soil types and it requires good, deep, friable well-drained soil with a pH between 5, 5 and 6, are marketed as fresh fruit and some are canned or processed as cherry jam, cherry brandy, cherry ice-cream and as practicesPlantingTrees can be planted early in spring. Plant 1-year-old nursery trees. Naturally cherry trees grow very large, for optimum yield the fruit tree had to be planted far apart to allow for their full size. For tart cherries the intra spacing is 6 to 7 m and for sweet cherry the spacing is about 7 to 9 m. The planting hole should depend on the root system. Cherries require a long winter therefore the grower should plant on the higher parts of a sloping area. Generally tree rows should run in a north-south direction, to provide maximum light penetration. If cold air drained is likely to be important, tree rows should also run downhill rather than across the slope or on the contour.

3 FertilisationThe soil must be tested before any fertiliser can be applied. Farmers growing cherry trees on fertile soil usually require only nitrogen fertiliser. The method normally used on application of fertiliser is the broad band method. The application must be about 30 cm from the trunk to the drip of the branches. Fertilisers can also be injected through irrigation systems [broadcast].IrrigationA young tree requires about 15 to 20 litres of water weekly during the first growing season. Cherries need irrigation for better growth and fruit quality. If irrigated to their full requirements, sweet cherries may use over 100 cm of water/ha in a season. During the first half of maturity cherries are irrigated to avoid plant deficits that could reduce fruit growth rates and produce small cherries. It is advisable for the grower to irrigate trees using drippers or micro sprinklers. Weed controlWeeds compete with the trees for water and nutrients.

4 Competition from weeds can be a major problem for young trees. Weeds should be controlled by herbicide application. Depending on weed density three meth-ods mechanical (hand hoe), spraying, or pulling out, can be used. Pest and disease controlA disease and insect control programme is essential to ensure productivity and high fruit quality. Brown rot and powdery mildew are the most frequent serious diseases. Bacterial canker is one of the major bacte-rial diseases. Pests that normally attack the cherries are apple maggot and plum curculio. Apple maggots lay eggs on the fruit and plum curculio feeds on flower and later on the fruit. Peach bore lays eggs on twigs, leaves or on fruit and can be controled biologically and by the use of pesticides. Birds can be controlled by using bird netting after fruit set.