Spring strategies to improve fruit set in sweet cherries
Introduction
Sweet cherry yield is determined by fruit set. Fruit set is the process of a flower turning into a fruit after successful pollination. However, unpredictable cold weather in BC can damage flowers and shorten pollination windows in the spring that limit fruit development and production later on. To find solutions, researchers studied how cold temperatures impact flower development and which horticultural practices can help protect them. The goal was to find ways that sustain fruit production and enhance crop resilience under cold conditions.
About this brief
This brief was prepared by Nisa Chavez and Juliana Cao from the BC Food Web team, with the help of Hao Xu, and is based on the following scientific journal article:
- Xu, H., Ediger, D., & Sharifi, M. Horticultural practices in early spring to mitigate the adverse effect of low temperature on fruit set in ‘Lapins’ sweet cherry. (2023). Plants 12(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030468.
Key Findings
Researchers tested four horticultural practices to see if they could improve cherry fruit set under cold spring conditions. Here are some key findings:
- Postponing irrigation worked best: Postponing irrigation for six weeks at full bloom increased fruit set by 7.6%.
- Tailor practices to on-farm conditions: The effectiveness of postponing irrigation to support fruit set varies depending on the cherry cultivar, soil type, and spring weather. Decisions about whether and how long to postpone irrigation should be adapted to these factors.
- Further research needed: Additional studies should look at how irrigation conditions before bloom can influence cold protection.