Hey, I know this is early, 5:40 at the current moment for me, but I have a question. How hard is it to grow a cherry orchard? My grandparents at their house in Alabama, want a cherry orchard. I’ve been looking to see how much it would take to grow an orchard of cherry trees. They are looking for about 14 trees, and the ones I’m looking at range from 59.99 to 79.99 . With getting these plants, I’d need to alter the soil to improve it’s structure and ability to grow cherry trees. I also know I’d need to install irrigation, which is no problem for me. I’ve installed irrigation on their property before for another orchard 5 years ago. Is there anything else that you guys or gals are thinking of that I’m might need to make a successful cherry orchard?
Look into what it takes for marketable cherries. The spraying, the possible netting needed from animals, and the upkeep along with what sprays you may need.
For the simple fact that I am terrible at keeping a schedule past the day, I opted to only have 2-3 cherry trees. I know 2 for sure, there may be a 3rd one floating around but not sure and don’t wanna check right now haha.
Here in Washington, if you don’t keep a regular spray schedule or net the entire tree from insects, you’ll get giant maggots in where the stem meets the fruit this is how i found out I’m allergic to maggots/worms. I’m planning to keep my few trees in pots indefinitely so i can keep them permanently small to be able to net them from the bugs. I personally don’t mind birds so much since i have so many things for them to take a little bit of but the bugs in cherries are a no-go for me and i hate having to spray my fruits to the point where I’ll burn the tree before spraying it if i feel overwhelmed with the amount of insects. Not sure if you have the same pest pressure it may be worth looking into the labor needed for such fruit along with the necessities for a successful harvest since different fruits require different tasks for a good harvest.
Thanks for the information. I will take it all into consideration. though, two things. 1. check to see if you 2 or three.
2. Don’t eat worms or maggots. yes, they do contain protein and other neccesities needed to survive, but they don’t have the best taste. ALWAYS check the fruit before eating.
Everything that I could share about growing cherries here in the south would just be from reports others have made. I originally wasn’t going to try growing any cherries, but after reading that there were bush cherries that could actually produce good fruit here I did end up planting one. There is much posted on the forum about what might work well in Alabama, my neighbor to the west. This is one of the many threads that I would direct you towards:
As a result of the difficulties I would have in producing sweet cherries I am fine with growing sour cherries instead.
Not knowing anything about the soil where your grandparents are, you might want to read up here on the forum about whether it is actually beneficial to turn the soil in the orchard into what we generally think that great garden soil should look like. I know that I certainly scaled back my plans after reading what people’s reports were when growing fruit trees in soil that was rich. Alan here manages many private fruit tree orchards and has many years of experience.
The subject of installing irrigation is another one that you might wish to consider leaving off, especially when working with well-meaning grandparents.
Now I do recognize that you stated “an orchard of cherry trees” instead of specifying that they want to grow cherries for fruit, so @Duncandog has asked some really good questions.
If they just want seven days a year of beautiful pink blooms then ornamental cherry trees might fill the need.
They are looking for actual fruit to grow. As I’d mention in my original prompt, I’d need to alter the soil conditions. The ground I plan on converting is a decent amount of ground. The soil quality is made of slight clay, with a nice thick layer of topsoil in other places. I would be in charge of managing the cherry trees, which is alright for me. My grandparents are older and unable to do orchard growing like they use to. In fact, the land I plan on planting the cherry trees use to be an place for muscadines. A few years prior, my grandparents payed me to remove the vine supports. know that grapes where grown there years before, I assume that there isn’t much for the soil I’d need to change. Just send a couple test to a lab to determine the nutrient contents in the soil.
Growing stone fruit on the east side of the country has a few problems. The main problems you will have is brown rot and insects. Both of which you will have to spray for. As for the soil I don’t think you really need to worry about that, just keep a good layer of mulch over it. As for birds I have not had a bad problem with them, but some do. In that regard the white cherries fare better. Some people think cherry are harder to grow, but I’ve got 10 trees of them and to me they are no harder than any other stone fruit. Just remember to keep the height in check. They are not easy to pick on a 20 foot ladder.
this is how i found out I’m allergic to maggots/worms. I’m planning to keep my few trees in pots indefinitely so i can keep them permanently small to be able to net them from the bugs. I personally don’t mind birds so much since i have so many things for them to take a little bit of but the bugs in cherries are a no-go for me and i hate having to spray my fruits to the point where I’ll burn the tree before spraying it if i feel overwhelmed with the amount of insects. Not sure if you have the same pest pressure it may be worth looking into the labor needed for such fruit along with the necessities for a successful harvest since different fruits require different tasks for a good harvest.