How to Properly Select Sweet Cherry Seedlings
Do you know these? Here are some small experiences in plant cultivation on how to properly select sweet cherry seedlings, let's learn about them together.
How to Properly Select Sweet Cherry Seedlings
Currently, the seedling industry is also very popular, and many beginners do not know how to purchase seedlings. Let's take a look at the article here, hoping that everyone can learn a bit about the techniques of buying seedlings. For fruit farmers who want to develop sweet cherries (large cherries), garden construction is the first step, and everything should start from garden construction. In garden construction, seedlings are a key link. It can even be said that seedlings are directly related to the success or failure of garden construction.
Why are Cherry Seedlings Difficult to Select
Currently, the high price and good profit of sweet cherries have inspired the enthusiasm of fruit farmers, and the popularity is even continuing. At the same time, it has brought a boom to the seedling market. In the past, bases that cultivated seedlings for other fruit trees or even for landscaping have started to shift to producing sweet cherry seedlings. From the perspective of market supply and demand, there is no shortage of seedlings in the market. On the other hand, fruit farmers complain that it is difficult to buy seedlings. What is the secret behind this apparent contradiction?
In fact, it's not that fruit farmers can't buy sweet cherry seedlings, but that they can't buy "reliable" seedlings! The most prominent problem is the mismatch of varieties. For example, I initially wanted to buy "Meihua," but it turned out to be "Hongdeng" after three to five years. It even matched several varieties, and finally, only one variety was left.
Take sweet cherries as an example. Even with dwarf rootstocks, it takes three years to produce fruit. Before planting fruit, it is difficult for ordinary fruit farmers to find the wrong variety. Once the wrong variety is found, it delays several years, which can be considered a significant loss. In addition to variety errors, the low survival rate and yield of sweet cherry seedlings are also major issues involving many aspects.
How to Properly Purchase Sweet Cherry Seedlings
First, if it is a large-scale garden, and the number of trial plantings is considerable, it is recommended to visit the nursery base in person. It is important to note that we should not simply look at the scale. Of course, scale is very important. To some extent, it symbolizes strength. However, "scale" is just a superficial aspect. Since sweet cherry commercial seedlings are basically grafted seedlings, the focus should be on the mother orchard.
Second, since sweet cherry commercial seedlings are basically grafted seedlings, two issues are involved: the rootstock and the scion. When looking at and buying seedlings at the base, not only should attention be paid to the variety (scion), but also to the rootstock used for sweet cherry commercial seedlings (grafted seedlings). In fact, the rootstock largely determines early fruiting, high yield, fruit quality, and tree longevity.
It is necessary to select the rootstock scientifically and rationally based on local soil and climate conditions. For example, if the average annual temperature in the area is below 10 degrees Celsius, choose a rootstock with better cold resistance, such as Mahali, cherry, etc. If the area is dry, do not choose the Cote rootstock, which has poor drought resistance, although it has good flood resistance. It is recommended to use乔木 rootstock in mountainous and hilly areas with poor soil fertility and (semi-)dwarf rootstock in fertile plains to achieve early fruiting and high yield.
Third, do not simply pursue the height and thickness of the seedlings. Beginners often think that strong and tall seedlings are good seedlings. In fact, sweet cherry seedlings grow very vigorously. Thickness and height are not the main issues. The key is to look at the development of the buds, such as whether the buds are full, whether the scales are dense, whether they have had insect diseases, whether they have frostbite, etc. The size of the buds directly determines the plant's ability to emerge and the expansion of leaves after planting, which should be given sufficient attention.
Fourth, for stone fruit trees, root cancer is a global issue, and sweet cherries are also prone to root cancer. The pathogenesis of root cancer is complex, but it is worth noting that the high incidence of root cancer is due to stubble land seedling raising and continuous cropping. In some nurseries, it is often difficult to transfer land, so it is inevitable to raise seedlings again. It is best to observe and inquire whether there is continuous cropping.
Fifth, in terms of variety selection, it is recommended to select and match varieties with different maturity periods according to the local phenology. If the local phenology is early, early-maturing varieties should account for 50%. Conversely, if the phenology is late, early-maturing varieties do not have an advantage; try to choose mainstream varieties currently in production, as these varieties have mostly stood the test of the market and are popular. Do not believe in so-called new varieties. After all, the cultivation and observation of new varieties require a long time to fully grasp the cultivation points.
Sixth, a reasonable proportion of pollination trees. Most sweet cherry varieties are not self-pollinating and require pollination. Even for those self-pollinating varieties, such as Rabins, Yanyang, Steiner, etc., yields can be significantly increased when mixed with other varieties.
To meet yield requirements, the proportion of pollination trees should not be less than 30%. If the orchard area is small and there are no other sweet cherry orchards nearby, the proportion of pollination trees should be 50%. Also, the distance between the main variety and the pollination trees should be within 15 meters. Moreover, the selection of pollination varieties requires good compatibility with the main variety, consistent flowering periods, and a large amount of pollen.
Seventh, check qualifications and sign a contract. The state has qualification requirements for seedling cultivation, generally requiring a "Forest Seed Production and Operation License." In addition, the majority of fruit farmers should check the "Business License" issued by the industrial and commercial department to understand the relevant registration information of the base; finally, when purchasing seedlings, a purchase and sale contract should be signed, clearly indicating the variety and quantity to be purchased.
The above introduction on how to properly select sweet cherry seedlings is provided for everyone to learn and understand!