Cherries: Calendar of Operations
for Home Gardeners
Pamela M. Geisel is UC Cooperative Extension Farm Advisor in Environmental Horticulture for
Fresno County; Carolyn L. Unruh is UCCE staff writer for Fresno County; and Paul Vossen is
UCCE Farm Advisor in Fruits, Vegetables, and Marketing for Sonoma and Marin Counties.
University of California
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Publication 7260
Cherry trees are best suited to moderate climate regions
in California, and most varieties require at least 600
hours of winter chilling (below 45°F) for normal flower-
ing and consistent production. High summer tempera-
tures contribute to fruit deformities such as doubling or
spurring of the fruit, although some varieties are more
tolerant of high temperatures. In foggy or very cool cli-
mates, fruit disease problems make production of quali-
ty fruit difficult. Generally speaking, sour cherries are
more likely than sweet cherries to produce good-quality
fruit in the warmer climate zones of California.
Cherries need well-drained soil because they are
quite prone to root and crown rots, especially in heav-
ier-textured soils. They generally do not do well when
planted in lawns: frequent irrigations promote root dis-
eases to which cherries are susceptible. Many cherries
are not self-fruitful and so require a pollenizer to ensure
a good crop. A second compatible variety has to be
planted nearby or grafted onto one major limb of the
cherry tree.
Winter Dormant Season
1.If scale insects, aphids, or mites are recurring
problems, apply dormant oil sprays (follow label
instructions) to help control these pests.
2.Prune out about 10 percent of last years growth
on mature trees to let light into the tree. Remove
broken and diseased branches.
3.Cherry trees sunburn easily. In hot regions, apply
a 1:1 mixture of white interior latex paint and
water for protection from sunburn and subse-
quent borer infestation. Apply the paint mixture
from two inches below the soil surface up the
entire trunk and on southwest-exposed scaffold
branches.
4.Plant new trees during the dormant season in
areas that have good soil texture and good
drainage. Avoid planting in heavy or compacted
soils.
Spring Bloom Season
1.You may need to apply fungicide to control
brown rot. Apply bordeaux or fixed copper at
the popcorn stage of bud development (when the
unopened flower buds have matured and the
petal color is discernible, so they resemble par-
tially popped corn kernels). Apply again at the
full-bloom stage, following label instructions.
2.Keep the trunk and the soil at the base of the tree
dry during irrigation. Apply water out toward
the drip line to reduce crown rot problems.
Spring Harvest Season
1.If you use drip irrigation, apply just the amount
of water needed to replace what is used by the
tree and lost from the soil through evaporation. If
you use sprinkler or flood irrigation, water about
every two to three weeks and provide enough
water to wet the soil to a depth of 18 to 24 inches.
During summer, young, small trees will need
about 4 to 12 gallons of water per day, and large
trees up to 250 gallons per week, although water
requirements will vary depending on environ-
mental conditions and your soil type.
2.Cover trees with netting to protect the fruit from
birds.
3.Harvest cherries when fully ripe, and avoid dam-
aging the fruit spurs as the fruit is picked. Keep
the stems attached to the cherries to keep tearing
of the flesh to a minimum. Cherries may be
stored for several days under refrigeration. They
may be sun-dried, canned, or frozen for longer
storage.
4.Apply nitrogen fertilizer after harvest. Water the
fertilizer in immediately to avoid loss of nitro-
gen. For mature trees, use about 4 pounds of
ammonium sulfate annually.
Summer and Autumn
1.Continue regular irrigation until fall rains and
cold weather arrive.
2.Avoid excessive cultivation around the tree as it
may damage shallow roots and expose them to
disease organisms.
For More Information
Cousult these UC IPM Pest Notes online at
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu:
Aphids
Bordeaux Mixture
Scales
Spider Mites
Youll also find detailed information on many aspects of
fruit and nut tree care in these titles and in other publi-
cations, slides sets, and videos from UC ANR:
California Master Gardener Handbook, publication 3382
Drip Irrigation in the Home Landscape, publication 21579
Pests of the Garden and Small Farm, publication 3332
Pruning Fruit and Nut Trees, publication 21171
Sweet Cherries for the Home Grounds, publication 2951
The UC Guide to Solving Garden and Landscape Prob-
lems, CD-ROM 3400
ORDERING
To order these products, visit our online catalog at
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu. You can also place
orders by mail, phone, or fax, or request a printed cata-
log of publications, slide sets, and videos from
University of California
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Communication Services
6701 San Pablo Avenue, 2nd Floor
Oakland, California 94608-1239
Telephone: 800-994-8849 or 510-642-2431
FAX: 510-643-5470
E-mail inquiries: danrcs@ucdavis.edu
For a free catalog of other publications, telephone
(800) 994-8849.
Visit the ANR Communication Services website at
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu.
Publication 7260
© 2002 by the Regents of the University of California,
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. All
rights reserved.
2 Cherries: Calendar of Operations for Home Gardeners
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WARNING ON THE USE OF CHEMICALS
Carefully follow all precautions and safety recommendations given on the container label. Store all chemicals in
their original labeled containers in a locked cabinet or shed, away from foods or feeds, and out of the reach of chil-
dren, unauthorized persons, pets, and livestock.
Confine chemicals to the property being treated. Avoid drift onto neighboring properties, especially gardens con-
taining fruits and/or vegetables ready to be picked.
Mix and apply only the amount of pesticide you will need to complete the application. spray all the material
according to label directions. Do not dispose of unused material by pouring down the drain or toilet. Do not pour
on ground: soil or underground water supplies may be contaminated. follow label directions for disposing of con-
tainer. Never burn pesticide containers.
PHYTOTOXICITY: Certain chemicals may cause plant injury if used at the wrong stage of plant development or
when temperatures are too high. Injury may also result from excessive amounts or the wrong formulation or from
mixing incompatible materials. Inert ingredients, such as wetters, spreaders, emulsifiers, diluents, and solvents,
can cause plant injury. Since formulations are often changed by manufacturers, it is possible that plant injury may
occur, even though no injury was noted in previous seasons.
Funding for this publication was made possible through a grant from the Elvenia J. Slosson Fund.
Cherries: Calendar of Operations for Home Gardeners 3
Introduction
Winter Dormant Season
Spring Bloom Season
Spring Harvest Season
Summer and Autumn
For More Information
WARNING ON THE USE OF CHEMICALS
Text1: ISBN 978-1-60107-051-7
