Cherry tree care in Siberia in spring

Which variety to choose?

Caring for cherry trees in frosty Siberia presents certain challenges, but it's entirely possible. The key is to choose the right variety, one that's been zoned for northern regions. If you take this step carefully, you can plant seedlings in both spring and fall.

Thanks to the efforts of breeders, we now have specialized cherry varieties suitable for growing in the Siberian climate. They have a high frost resistance threshold and are distinguished by their early ripening. The following varieties have proven themselves to be the best:

• Steppe;
• Felt;
• Sandy;
• Ordinary.

Other cherry tree varieties that grow successfully in the European part of Russia are unsuitable for northern regions, as they are unlikely to survive the harsh winter.

Planting technology

The first thing to decide is when to plant the trees. Cherry trees should be planted no earlier than April in the spring, and if planting in the fall, no later than November. However, spring planting is preferable, as it reduces the risk of cherry tree mortality, as the saplings need time to adapt.

If you happen to get your hands on planting material after November, then it's best to postpone planting until spring, and carefully bury the trees in the garden:

• We choose a quiet place on the site where few ultraviolet rays penetrate, which means the snow cover will last longer;
• Once the site is selected, we dig a shallow hole – about 40 cm;
• in this case, the hole is formed so that one of its walls is inclined, and the other is strictly vertical;
• we plant the trees, laying them on a sloping side, burying the roots and trunks to about a third of their length;
• now your cherries need abundant watering so that the soil covers the root system well;
• Once the trees are planted and watered, they need to be carefully covered with spruce branches to protect them from the approaching frosts.

With its root system closed, the seedling, prepared for the winter, will calmly wait until the right time when it can be moved to another location.

You can plant this cherry tree in its permanent location in the spring. Before planting, prepare a new hole: it should be slightly larger than the previous one – about half a meter deep and slightly larger in diameter. It's important that the planting site for the cherry tree be away from groundwater, otherwise the root system may rot. Planting and caring for the seedlings requires fertilizing the hole – each tree will require about 1 kg of wood ash and 25 g of potassium chloride. Now all that's left to do is water the cherries: each with 2.5 buckets of warm water.

Care instructions

Caring for a planted cherry tree in Siberia in the spring is not much different from other regions: you also need to regularly treat the tree for pests and potential diseases, as well as provide scheduled fertilizing. Every fall, dig the soil around the young tree to a depth of half a spade. Cherries also require watering, despite being considered drought-resistant.

Until the tree reaches three years of age, it doesn't need fertilization—the cherry tree is perfectly happy with the nutrition it received during planting. And, of course, loosening the soil and removing weeds is beneficial for the overall health of the trees and their yield, as it improves air access to the roots.

Now you know how to care for your cherry tree in Siberia so it lives a long and productive life, delighting you with a bountiful harvest of delicious, juicy, and aromatic berries each year. Follow our recommendations, and you're sure to grow a true Chekhov cherry orchard that will be the envy of your neighbors, even in areas where harsh winters are a frequent guest.

Video: "Cherry Tree Care in Siberia"

This video will teach you how to properly care for cherry trees in Siberia.