How and in what way to propagate felt cherry

Which method to choose

Not every gardener will dare to plant a felt cherry tree. Despite all the advantages of this shrub, it can bear fruit for no more than 10 years. Furthermore, the fruits ripen very small, and the pits are difficult to separate from the pulp. However, if you already have one in your garden, why not experiment and find the optimal method for propagating the cherry, for example, in the spring? For those who already grow a shrub in their garden, cuttings are a suitable method. If you've already been treated to ripe cherries, you can use the pits to propagate the plant. The choice of method will depend not only on your preferences but also on your resources.

Cuttings

Propagating felt cherry by cuttings is an ideal option if you have a well-bearing bush. The cuttings you've cut should be soaked in a growth regulator. After that, you can safely root them in a special substrate. The key is to cover the entire thing with plastic film. In extremely sunny weather, you can lay a layer or even several layers of gauze on top of the film. This will create ideal conditions for the cuttings to root quickly.

Seeds

Cuttings aren't the only way to propagate felt cherries. Chinese cherries are propagated by seeds. Select medium-sized fruits, remove the pits, wash them thoroughly, and dry them. When the time is right, the seeds can be sown in the ground. It's best to plant in the fall, but gardeners often do this in the spring as well.

Layering

Felt cherry also propagates well by layering. In the spring, the bush is carefully pruned, selecting horizontal layers for propagation. The resulting layers are distributed in a furrow and then pinned down. If done correctly, vertical shoots will soon begin to develop from them. This means the new cherry bushes have taken root.

Green cuttings

It's recommended to prepare young cuttings in June. The cut cherry sections should be soaked in a growth stimulant for a while. After this, the cuttings should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water and then planted in a greenhouse. It will take about a month for the cuttings to root properly. During this period, try to maintain soil and air humidity.

In most cases, approximately 80 percent of cuttings will root. How soon to plant the rooted cuttings in open ground is up to you. Some gardeners grow them in a greenhouse for at least another year, but others prefer to move them outdoors immediately.

Gardener's Tips

How to propagate the felt cherry is a question often faced by Russian gardeners. This cherry tree isn't often planted in Russia. However, it requires little care. Remember that this fruit tree is a sun-loving plant and tolerates drought well. It's believed that this shrub can live for about 20 years, but in practice, plants rarely exceed 10 years.

The main advantage of the felt cherry is that it begins producing fruit early and in large quantities. By planting cuttings or grafts approximately 1.5–2 meters apart, don't be afraid to conserve space in your garden. You'll certainly appreciate the flavor of the cherry fruit you planted in the spring after a couple of years. Felt cherries resemble the familiar sweet cherry.

Every gardener should plant this tree in the spring, especially if they can take cuttings from friends' and acquaintances' bushes. This way, you can have a Chinese cherry tree in your garden without much expense.

Video: Caring for Felt Cherry

This video will show you how to care for felt cherry trees.