Season 2024: Expectations for the season after an early start

18 Apr 2024
2108

With the climate warming up earlier than usual, cherry blossoms in Puglia are already in full swing, setting the stage for the 2024 cherry season. But what does this mean for cherry quality, and what factors should growers keep in mind? We turned to agronomist Maurizio Simone from the agronomic consultancy Doctor Farmer for insights.

According to Simone, the vegetative growth of cherry trees kicks off with the flowering phase, which started ahead of schedule this year. However, this rapid start has led to uneven flowering, likely due to the mild winter climate. On the same tree, flowering has been staggered, with some parts blooming now, nearly 20 or more days later than the first bloom.

One of the main reasons for the discrepancy in flowering timing this season could be attributed to the cherry trees not receiving sufficient chilling hours needed for uniform vegetative growth. The lack of chilling hours can significantly impact crop production, limiting uniform flowering and compromising subsequent bud development and quality. To address this, it's essential to maintain plant balance throughout the year with targeted agronomic interventions focusing on nutrition and plant health.

Cherry trees do not differentiate buds from February to June, the typical period for cultural operations by growers. Therefore, meticulous care from harvest to the next flowering phase is crucial.

Bud differentiation in cherry trees usually occurs during dormancy, starting in late autumn and continuing through winter. Failure to monitor this phase can lead to the presence of harmful pests (such as almond bugs), causing early defoliation and subsequent physiological imbalances that negatively affect bud differentiation. This can result in the formation of non-fertile flowers in the next season, characterized by the presence of petals and sepals but lacking stamens or pistils.

Last year's abundant rainfall followed by high temperatures also contributed to plant stress, compounded by inadequate winter dormancy. Consequently, current cherry orchards may exhibit imbalances. Despite these challenges, the cherry season has begun, with sporadic harvesting already underway in some greenhouses. Learning from past mistakes is crucial to improving future yields.

Despite the aforementioned imbalances, the current climate conditions are favorable for cherries. Daytime temperatures around 22-23°C and nighttime temperatures dropping to about 10-12°C are optimal for cherry growth and development, with the species capable of withstanding temperatures as low as 6-7°C. Furthermore, favorable precipitation patterns reduce the risk of pollination issues or fruit splitting.

While there's no one-size-fits-all solution in agriculture, Simone emphasized the importance of cover cropping to increase field biodiversity and organic matter availability. However, uncontrolled cover cropping can pose challenges if not properly managed, potentially leading to the growth of competing plant species. Therefore, while cover cropping can be beneficial, it requires careful consideration and management.

Source: Fruit Journal
Image: Fruit Journal


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Southern Fruits International (New Zealand) promotes online pre-sales, expected to double volumes in 2024

Press review

22 Feb 2024

Southern Fruits International's Beyond brand cherries will continue to be available for online purchase throughout the season,' says Sharon Kirk, the company's founder and marketing manager, 'through online sales of 1 kg, 2 kg and 5 kg boxes.

Chile-India: Chile Summit 2024 paves the way for new business collaboration

Markets

26 Aug 2024

The event is organized by ProChile with the aim of strengthening institutional ties between Chile and India, as well as identifying opportunities for commercial cooperation and advancing agreements that promote the exchange of goods and services.

In evidenza

Argentina's 2025/26 cherry season at risk as Capci tones down export outlook

Markets

28 Oct 2025

Argentina’s 2025/26 cherry season begins with mixed signals. Capci warns of early fruit drop affecting export volumes. Despite good fruit quality, unstable weather and production issues may impact international shipments, pushing forecasts toward stability or slight decline.

Micropropagation protocol for Gisela 17 tested in a commercial nursery in India

Rootstocks

28 Oct 2025

A new micropropagation protocol for Gisela 17 rootstock was developed in Aurangabad, India. The study achieved excellent results in asepsis, rooting and shoot proliferation, paving the way for healthy cherry stock production and modern nursery propagation techniques.

Tag Popolari