CHERRY

Cherry is native of Europe to Asia. It is one of the most important deciduous fruit crop of the world. As it required cooler climate, the North-Western Himalayan region is major cherry producing region of India. Cherry is rich source of Vitamin “C” and fiber. It also possesses some medicinal property like it helps in reducing risk of heart stroke, diabetes also helps to improve brain function. It gives higher returns that’s why it’s cultivation is becoming popular in country.

Pauri, Uttarkashi are major cherry producing areas of Uttarakhand.

 

For good growth and yield, well drained deep sandy loam soil with good moisture holding capacity are required. pH of soil should be in range of 6.5 to 7. Avoid water logging or heavy soils for cultivation.

Sweet cherry varieties:

Early Reverse: It is an early variety which matures in start-May. Fruits are big, black, egg shaped, and has small kernel. The fruit has pink flesh which is aromatic. The variety is resistant to cracking.

Early purple black heart: It has big size fruits, round heart shaped, and is long. The peel of fruit is thick, red to brinjal black in color. The variety matures in end-May.

Emperor Francis: The variety is resistant to cracking. Fruits are deep red in color.

Royal N: The variety has big sized fruits, egg shaped, and is comparatively hard. The flesh is sweet and juicy. The fruits matures late and matures in end-June.

Compost Lambert: The trees of this variety is dwarf. Fruits are of good shape and black in color.

Stella: It is an early and productive variety. It has black color fruits, big to medium, heart-egg in shape. Flesh is hard and productive.

Van: It is an early and productive variety. It has big sized fruits, shining black, hard and is short in diameter. It is resistant to cracking and gives good quality fruits.

Viscount: Fruits are medium to big size, flesh shaped, shining, deep red color, hard, and are attractive. The juice is deep red in color.

Hedelfinger: The variety matures earlier than Lambert. It has big sized fruits, hard and is of good quality. The variety is resistant to cracking.

Sour cherry varieties:

English morello: This variety has small trees, straight growing, spreading and is productive. It is a late variety which has dark color and is good in taste. Fruits are black taking dark red color, semi-hard, medium size and is suitable for making pie.

Montmorency: The variety is resistant and productive.

Meteor: The tree is dense and is more productive. Fruits are medium in size and is round-egg shaped. Fruits are bright and light red in color.

Other state varieties:

Early Purple Black Heart, Guigne Noir Gross Lucenta, Guigne Noir Hative

Black Tartarian, Napoleon White, Sam, Sue, Stella, Van, Black Republican, Pink Early, White Heart, Early Rivers, Nirodiro, Cherry Red Sweet heart

Plough land and bring soil to fine tilth. Dug pits of 1mx1mx1m, one month before planting. Exposed these pits to sun for 10-15days. Then fill pits with top soil, well decomposed cow dung or FYM@35 to 40kg and Superphosphate@0.5kg. Fill these mixture in proportion of 50:50.  
 

Time of sowing
December to January is optimum time for cherry planting.

Spacing
For sowing use spacing of 4mx6m.

Sowing Depth
In nursery, stratified seeds are sown on bed at depth of 6cm.

Method of sowing
Grafted seedlings are transplanted in main field.

Method of Planting
In hilly and slopy areas, contour or terrace method of planting is used. Whereas for flat or valley areas, square system of planting is used.  
 

Seed Rate
With spacing 4mx6m, near about 166trees are accommodates in one acre area.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing treat the seedlings with Bavistin@0.01% to protect them from root rot.
 

Cherry are propagated by grafting i.e. Tongue grafting method.

Seedlings of Wild Bird cherry or Mahaleb are used as rootstock for cherry. Extract seeds from fully ripen fruits. After extraction, seeds are dried and stored in cool place. Then seeds are stratified. Stratification is necessary to break dormancy of seeds.

Before sowing soaked seeds in GA3 solution for 24hours. Then place seeds, in moist sand and kept this medium at cooler place at temperature of 2-4oC for 80-120days. Keep sand moist throughout this period.

After germination, transplant them on nursery bed at depth of 6cm, Use plant to plant spacing 10-15cm and row to row spacing of 20-25cm. Cover bed with mulch and when seedling attain height of 5-6cm remove mulch.

Scion wood for grafting is collected in winter season.
 

Trees are trained on “modified leader system”. In bearing tree pruning is required to keep center of tree open. Remove dead, disease and intercrossing branches of tree.

Fertilizer Requirement (gm/tree/year)

In the first year, application of nitrogen@25gm/tree/year, phosphorus@20gm/tree/year and potash@25gm/tree/year should be given. The dose should be increased upto 10 years.

Along with this the dose of zinc sulphate @0.4% and borex @0.3% should be given to increase for the better results.
 

Cherry is cultivated in rainfed areas. Provide irrigation depending upon rainfall intensity and frequency. In summer season provide frequent and light irrigation. Fruit development stage is critical for irrigation. Water stress at this stage can leads to inferior quality and small size fruit.  

To keep check on weeds, apply pre-emergence herbicide, Diuron@1.6kg/acre. Also apply Paraquat @1.6kg /acre as post-emergence herbicide.

Mulching is also effective way of controlling weeds along with moisture conservation. Mulch tree in April- May month with 10-15cm thick layer of hay.  
 

• Pest and their control:

Stem borer: Remove stem borer from hole with help of flexible wire and clean the hole. Then plugged hole with mud. Take spray of quinalphos@400ml per acre.
 

Aphid and Thrips: They suck sap from leaves and causing yellowing of leaves. To check infestation, use yellow stick traps@4-5traps per acre. They secrete honey dew like substance and black sooty mould is developed on affected areas. Take spray of Imidacloprid@40ml or Thiamethoxam@80gm/200Ltr water.
 

• Disease and their control:
  

Leaf spot / shot hole /brown rot: Use resistant varieties for control. Remove infected leaves and destroyed away from field. If infestation is observed take spray of M-45@400gm per acre or Captan 50%WP@300gm in 150-200Ltr of water per acre.
 

Root Rot: Bark and wood get turn brown with white powdery growth on it. Infected tree gets wilted and give early leaves fall. Take spray of Copper Oxychloride@400gm/200Ltr of water.
 

Right time of fruit picking is important as early picking results in less yield and late picking results in over ripe fruits with low quality.

Harvest fruit considering factors like color development, flavor and TSS values. For fresh consumption, fruits are picked with stem.
 

For processing purpose, fruit without stem are collected. Then they are packed in boxes having paper lining.