Too Many Stems for a Cherry?

lapk78 · April 15, 2020

Hi all. I thought that the general consensus was that it's not necessary to limit the number stems on an indeterminate cherry.

Well, I've got a 4'x4' raised bed with an indeterminate in each of the four corners. Two are of the currant variety (Candyland-crazy bushy and dense), one is a beefsteak (Chef's Choice Orange- limiting to 4 stems), and one is a cherry (SunSugar).

For the cherry, I've only pruned away the lowest foliage to allow for better airflow. But I haven't suckered at all and have something like 8 stems growing from the bottom of the plant, with more suckers growing higher up.

Is this recommended, or am I WAY off in not limiting the number of stems? Thanks!

CrazyAboutOrchids · April 15, 2020

Not an expert, but I've grown Sunsugar for years and I just let it be. It's a monster, needs a ton of room and will outgrow anything you put it in but man, what a great cherry! Mine grows out and over a double stacked square cage and over our 7 foot deer fence - some years it grows well down the other side!

lapk78 · April 15, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAboutOrchids

Not an expert, but I've grown Sunsugar for years and I just let it be. It's a monster, needs a ton of room and will outgrow anything you put it in but man, what a great cherry! Mine grows out and over a double stacked square cage and over our 7 foot deer fence - some years it grows well down the other side!

It's such a good cherry! I've only grown them in self-watering containers in the past, and this is the first year I've used raised beds, so this is a new to me. How and/or how often do you fertilizer then, if I may ask?

QAGuy · April 15, 2020

I limit my cherry tomatoes to 4 main leaders. Was still picking upwards of 100 a day. They grow out of the top of my PVC cages and halfway back down to the ground.

I fertilize weekly myself.

lapk78 · April 15, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by QAGuy

I limit my cherry tomatoes to 4 main leaders. Was still picking upwards of 100 a day. They grow out of the top of my PVC cages and halfway back down to the ground.

I fertilize weekly myself.

Interesting. What type of enclosure do you use? How much space do they get per plant? I wonder if it's too late for me to trim it back to 4 attend.

mcsee · April 15, 2020

If I had a plant growing like that, I'd remove at least the lower 4 stems.

lapk78 · April 15, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcsee

If I had a plant growing like that, I'd remove at least the lower 4 stems.

Even if it were a cherry?

QAGuy · April 16, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapk78

Interesting. What type of enclosure do you use? How much space do they get per plant? I wonder if it's too late for me to trim it back to 4 attend.

I use PVC for cages. I keep them 3 feet apart and they're around 18 square. No, it's never too late to prune. I'm pruning all the time to keep to the 4 leaders.

CrazyAboutOrchids · April 17, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapk78

It's such a good cherry! I've only grown them in self-watering containers in the past, and this is the first year I've used raised beds, so this is a new to me. How and/or how often do you fertilizer then, if I may ask?

I've been using Urban Farms Fertilizers for a few years now. I fertilize every other week once I pot up with Vegetable Fertilizer and continue that but not as regularly as I should. Once flowers set, I switch to their Tomato Fertilizer. I think they make a GREAT product! I grow in raised beds here in CT.

mcsee · April 17, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by lapk78

Even if it were a cherry?

Even taking the three leaders that originate below the surface, this will still leave you with five leaders. Do you intend to prune laterals as the plant grows, or not prune at all.

zipcode · April 17, 2020

It depends on the cherry. The multiflora type should be pruned to around two-three stems (this includes most modern cherry hybrids which usually can make 30+ fruits per branch). So currants and the like, which have 8-12 fruits/branch should not be pruned if you want production out of them. Not sure about Sunsugar, but Sungold for example is a weak multiflora, it rarely goes above 20 fruit/branch, so it shouldn't be pruned too much.

In the end, if you have the space, and no major disease problems due to bushiness, just let them grow.

April 15, 2020	#4
QAGuy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Glendora, CA Posts: 167	I limit my cherry tomatoes to 4 main leaders. Was still picking upwards of 100 a day. They grow out of the top of my PVC cages and halfway back down to the ground. I fertilize weekly myself. __________________ "We have met the enemy and he is us" - Pogo

April 15, 2020	#2
CrazyAboutOrchids Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zone 6 - CT Posts: 155	Not an expert, but I've grown Sunsugar for years and I just let it be. It's a monster, needs a ton of room and will outgrow anything you put it in but man, what a great cherry! Mine grows out and over a double stacked square cage and over our 7 foot deer fence - some years it grows well down the other side!

April 15, 2020	#6
mcsee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Victoria. Australia Posts: 543	If I had a plant growing like that, I'd remove at least the lower 4 stems.

April 17, 2020	#11
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	It depends on the cherry. The multiflora type should be pruned to around two-three stems (this includes most modern cherry hybrids which usually can make 30+ fruits per branch). So currants and the like, which have 8-12 fruits/branch should not be pruned if you want production out of them. Not sure about Sunsugar, but Sungold for example is a weak multiflora, it rarely goes above 20 fruit/branch, so it shouldn't be pruned too much. In the end, if you have the space, and no major disease problems due to bushiness, just let them grow.