Sweet cherry trees constantly bear fruit, are adapted to environmental conditions, produce high-quality fruit that are in demand on the market, and are easy to care using modern technologies.
In modern fruit growing, it is recommended to use intensive systems for growing sweet cherry trees grafted on rootstocks of medium vigor (Maxima 14, Gisela 6) at a planting distance of 4-5x2-3 m or on dwarf rootstocks (Gisela 5) at a planting distance of 3.5-4x1.5-2 m, using tree support means such as trellises and wire or individual wooden rods installed at the time of tree planting.
Between the years 2022 and 2023, in the north of the Republic of Moldova, the impact of the cultivation system of sweet cherry trees (Prunusavium L.) of the Kordia, Regina, Summit, Sweet Valina, Sweet Stefanny, Sweet Saretta and Marysa varieties, grafted on Gisela 6, which were planted in 2018 at a distance of 4x1 m was evaluated.
The trees had super spindle shaped crowns. The shaping and pruning of the trees, the yield and the distribution of the fruit according to their diameter were studied. The purpose of the pruning was to create favorable air drainage in the crown.
The trees that have super spindle shaped crowns, which is a variant of the thin spindle shaped crowns, require posts and wires to support them, and an irrigation and fertilization system. At planting, the unbranched trees, grafted on Gisela 6, were shortened 30-40 cm from the ground in order to form a well-developed shoot, which would become the axis and develop branches that develop from lateral buds. In trees with lateral branches, the branches were shortened to 2-3 vegetative buds.
The crown was composed of a well-developed axis, which had short branches and fruiting branches. The crown shaping was done in order to keep the branches near the axis in a physiologically active state for fruiting. It was performed by shortening the shoots to 1/3 of their length when the flower buds had differentiated and allowed the remaining buds to mature.
During the period of vegetative rest, the excess of fruiting branches was cut. During the fruiting period, the fruit yield was 15-20 t/ha.
In recently planted orchards, it is necessary to apply pruning that overlap with the fruit harvesting or its completion, which reduce the crown shaping time and favor the early fruiting of the trees. During the fruiting period of the trees, the branches are not shortened but thinned; during the period of full fruiting, the pruning stimulates the growth and regulate the fruiting.
Russu Stanislav
Technical University of Moldova, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
20 Oct 2023
The step taken by S-21 was to successfully overcome the first institutional constraint, being unanimously approved by the INIA's Regional Committee for the Release of New Varieties, a milestone for regional and national fruit growing.
22 Nov 2024
With regard to varieties, CAPCI Director Aníbal Caminiti indicated that so far there have been no environmental problems affecting the fruit, ‘so, in general, all the fruit that has gone out for export and for the domestic market has been of very good quality’.
05 Nov 2025
Born in the mountains of Aragón, Mountain Cherry blends tradition, innovation, and respect for the land. With 185 hectares of premium cherries and plums, this family business stands as a benchmark for sustainability, quality, and social responsibility with growing global reach.
05 Nov 2025
For ten years, the FabLab at the University of Chile has been promoting biofabrication as a path to reduce waste and regenerate natural resources. Using cherry pits, innovators create new sustainable materials and design solutions that merge science, art, and environmental care.
