Among the main productive problems that we can see in the field in adult and formed orchards, are errors in training management in the first years of the orchard even before planting, such as poor soil preparation, (there are still producers who ask if it is necessary subsoil the soil before planting, just to save this cost), poor quality of plants and no chemical preparation of the soil.
Orchards that present disease and phytosanitary symptoms in the second, third or fourth year of planting are generally associated with poor quality plants from the nursery, which is why we as producers should not receive or plant material that presents disease symptoms or second-hand plants. Third category, this is the number one mistake when establishing a garden, a low-quality plant will hardly be able to express its productive potential and if possible, it will have a high productive cost, so it is important to be clear that one. “GOOD PLANT” IS PRICELESS.
When we talk about plant quality, we must always take into consideration the handling carried out in the nursery of the material that we are going to plant in our fields. Therefore, correct selection and supervision by the producers and technical teams of the plants received at the time of planting is of utmost importance. If batches of plants are observed that do not meet quality standards or present symptoms of diseases, injuries, or presence of galls, they should NOT be received or planted. Since achieving productive potential based on a poor-quality plant is very costly, and sometimes leads to project failure....
We are excited to announce the third episode of our new column"The expert reports", a series of exclusive articles curated by Patricio Morales, a renowned Chilean consultant and internationally recognized agronomist. These in-depth articles will be available only to our most loyal readers.
Want access? Sign up for our free Cherry Times newsletter! This is the only way to receive each new article from this column directly in your inbox and stay updated with high-quality advice and analysis. Don't miss this unique opportunity!
Sign up for the Cherry Times newsletter for free!
06 Jul 2026
Cristián Pino leads a free online course on export cherry production in Chile, focusing on fruit quality, soft cherries, irrigation, nutrition, biostimulants and practical strategies to improve orchard profitability across Valparaíso and Maule for stronger export results.
20 May 2025
A study carried out in Moldova from 2010 to 2022 analyzes how rootstocks, canopy shapes, and planting distances affect yield and fruit quality in sweet cherry. Key insights on variety-rootstock combinations and orchard design for better production and fruit standards.
14 Sep 2026
In Spain’s Jerte Valley, genomic selection is speeding up cherry breeding: Cicytex and Agrupación de Cooperativas Valle del Jerte will work through 2030 on 1,000 trees and around 110 varieties to identify fruit quality, ripening and market suitability earlier using DNA.
14 Sep 2026
Effective cherry blossom management improves pollination, fruit set and size. From beehives, Bombus colonies and pollen to auxin, cytokinin and fungicide applications, these key strategies help support yield, fruit quality and crop health throughout flowering season.
