When is the best time to apply water-soluble fertilizer to cherry trees?

Cherry trees need to be topdressed with water-soluble fertilizers several times during their growth. The water-soluble fertilizers used vary according to their growth stages. Generally, the seasons when cherries use a lot of water-soluble fertilizers are mainly from December to May.

Generally speaking, there are four key periods for fertilizing cherries, namely, the budding period, flowering period, fruit setting period and post-harvest period, and the water-soluble fertilizers used are also different.

Fertilizing cherry trees during budding period

The main water-soluble fertilizers applied to cherry trees during the budding period are high-nitrogen or balanced water-soluble fertilizers . During the formal period, the main purpose is to promote the budding and growth of leaves, and the amount of fertilizer applied is not particularly large.

In addition to water-soluble fertilizers, you can also apply some organic fertilizers and microbial agents to alleviate the tree's wintering condition.

Fertilizing during cherry blossom period

When cherry trees reach the flowering period, it is necessary to increase the application of phosphorus. At this time, high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizers are generally used. The main function is to promote the transport of nutrients to flower buds, increase the flowering rate, and reduce the flower drop rate.

It is very helpful to improve the fruit setting rate of cherry trees in the later stage. Generally, a sufficient amount of high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizer needs to be applied before and after flowering.

Fertilization during cherry fruit setting period

The fruit-setting period of cherry trees is the stage when the largest amount of fertilizer is applied. At this time, the overall growth of the fruit trees enters a period of vigorous development, and the demand for nutrients is relatively strong, mainly the increased demand for potassium.

As the fruit begins to expand, the application of potassium should be gradually increased to promote the expansion, color change and sweetening of the cherry fruits, increase yield and improve fruit quality.

During the fruit swelling period, in addition to applying high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer, it is also necessary to supplement medium and trace elements in time to prevent physiological diseases such as fruit cracking, fruit falling, and yin-yang fruit in cherries.

Fertilization after cherry harvest

The best time to apply basal fertilizer is after cherries are picked and before leaves fall.

Because although the trees are no longer growing at this time, the roots of the crops are still developing, which is the best time to nourish and protect the roots.

At this time, balanced water-soluble fertilizer should be applied together with organic fertilizer and microbial agents to promote root development, improve the soil environment, and avoid the situation of alternate bearing of cherry trees.