I have two potted cherry trees-one bing and one rainier. I received them late in the season last year but had them well settled going into winter. A few branches started to extend during leaf out this spring, but I then had issues with what I assume to be ofm or peach borers due to all the new shoots flagging and dying. Since that happened a month ago or so I’m literally seeing zero growth at all nor any attempts to make new shoots. The trees essentially are dormant in the summer, for lack of a better term. The leaves look fine other than a few fungal spots here and there. It looks like the only growth I’ll get for the whole season is a few inches on a couple of branches, and it’s disheartening.
They are 2 year trees with a decent height and 3 or 4 main branches. I have multiple spots of gummosis near the dead shoots but cannot tell if they’re otherwise diseased.
I am growing peaches next to them and they befell the same initial fate, but after a few rounds of BT, the peaches are starting to produce new growth tips again.
Are cherries particularly sensitive to insect attack? Container substrate? Fertilization frequency? All my potted figs, berries, apples, etc. are having a great season and they’re all potted in the same medium (modified 5-1-1potting mix) and fed the same ferts.
I did search the forum quite a bit but could not find anyone dealing with this exact scenario. I’m about ready to hack them up and repot to see if I can get any response from them.
Will add pics tomorrow. I’m on the CT coast, zone 6b
I think you have a tough road ahead trying to grow those sweet cherries in a pot- but certainly it can be done.
As for the growth stopping after the tips died (probably because of Orliental Fruit Month). I wouldn’t worry too much. Peaches continue to put on new growth longer and faster than cherries- at least in my experience. So when cherry tips die this late in the year, it isn’t uncommon for them to not send out new growth. In fact, even tips that haven’t died stop growing about this time of year (again, that is where I live in zone 7a/6b). Cherries in pots aren’t going to be real vigorous anyway, nothing like peaches, so I don’t think you have a big problem on your hands at all. You very well could have some nutrient/fertilize deficiencies and other potted tree growers here can better help you with that. I’d apply some fertilize but I know some people disagree and I’m no potted tree expert. good luck
I just caught a tiny worm boring into a flagging branch on my Chickasaw plum. I suspect OFM. My White Gold Cherry leafed out, but has not grown after being severely deer pruned. It was newly planted, so I assume the roots do not have enough vigor to push out new growth yet.
Cherries don’t like hot weather, they often stall this time of year. Also in the first year trees in general don’t grow so much. Plus you have the shoot strikes… sounds like you just need to hope things are less stressful next year. I would not repot them, that can do more harm than good unless there is a known problem with the potted plant.
The main serious concern I have is bacterial canker. It also slows trees down a lot. If there is a lot of gumming that may be your problem.
Thanks for the reply, @thecityman ! I’m new to cherry trees and am learning they are a bit more finicky, especially in containers. I know it’s not ideal for the tree, but I’m currently renting and can’t put it in the ground yet.
I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Take care.
Thanks, @scottfsmith I can definitely tell they don’t like the hot weather, at least not to the extent we’re having lately here.
I am starting to wonder about canker myself, especially on the bing. I’m new to cherries but pretty familiar with gardening and plants in general, and I have a pretty good eye for temporarily stressed plants vs those on the decline in a bad way. This tree is starting to look like the latter-it’s having a root rot issue or something equally bad/systemic and I’m not sure what to do.
I’ve tried watering it less and more, played with different (aqueous) fert dilutions, etc. I can tell by the mass of the pot that its stopped taking up as much water as it was, and that seems telling given it’s super hot here.
In your experience, what is the best method to diagnose canker and/or root rot? I’m assuming pulling it out of the pot and looking at the root health is the best way to discern the latter, but I’ve never examined a tree for canker. I see a lot of pics and such when I search the web, but I haven’t seen a definitive way to diagnose this.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to respond. I really appreciate the help.