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Reasons and Countermeasures for Low Fruit Setting Rate of Cherry
The blooming period of cherry trees often faces challenges such as low temperatures, rain, or frost, which can lead to a significantly reduced fruit set. Is this damage entirely unavoidable? Should we take the time to reflect and learn from these experiences?
During the flowering stage, cherries thrive best when the average daily temperature is around 15°C. While flower buds can tolerate temperatures as low as -5°C, the blossoms and young fruits are more sensitive, withstanding only down to -2.8°C. If the temperature drops below -5°C during this critical phase, the pistils, petals, buds, and even the stems can suffer frost damage and turn brown. However, in most years, the temperature during cherry flowering rarely falls below 0°C. It usually stays between 3-4°C and 10°C, and yet, no visible signs of frost damage are observed on the flowers. This suggests that low fruit set is not always caused by frost, but rather by other factors that require comprehensive management and improvement.
First, the quality of flower buds plays a crucial role. Cherry flower buds form within a short window—typically from the time spring shoots stop growing until about 10 days after physiological differentiation. From 10 to 50 days post-harvest, they enter the morphological differentiation stage. Both phases demand sufficient and balanced nutrition. If the tree lacks essential nutrients, suffers from leaf damage, experiences drought or waterlogging, or has poor root activity, it may result in the abortion of the pistil (where the stigma fails to develop). These non-viable flowers cannot produce fruit, directly reducing the fruiting rate.
Second, the tree’s overall nutrient reserves are vital. According to *Shandong Fruit Tree*, even under similar cold conditions, trees that are vigorous have much better survival rates than weak ones. Trees with poor nutrient storage are far more likely to suffer frost damage. In fact, up to 62.3% of flower and fruit damage occurs in trees with insufficient reserves. This highlights the importance of proper fertilization, balanced nutrition, and good soil health to ensure the tree has enough energy to survive and bear fruit.
Third, pollination issues also play a major role. Most cherry varieties have poor self-pollination abilities and rely on cross-pollination for successful fruiting. Even if compatible pollinators are planted, adverse weather like cold or rain during bloom can prevent bees and insects from working effectively. Poor pollination leads to shriveled or dropped fruit, further lowering the setting rate.
To improve the fruit set of cherry trees, an integrated approach is essential. First, avoid over-reliance on chemical fertilizers. Instead, use well-decomposed organic manures, biogas fertilizers, and high-quality composts. These provide balanced nutrition, enhance soil structure, and promote long-term tree health. Second, limit nitrogen application after May to prevent excessive shoot growth, which can harm flower bud development and reduce nutrient storage.
Third, maintain deep, well-aerated soil throughout the growing season to support strong root systems. Fourth, raise the trunk height by 20–30 cm during winter and spring to prevent waterlogging. Fifth, manage irrigation carefully—keep the soil at 60–70% of its maximum water-holding capacity, ensuring good drainage and air circulation.
Sixth, mulch the area under the trees with 20 cm of grass to regulate soil temperature and protect the roots. Seventh, control pests and diseases to preserve leaf health and photosynthetic efficiency. Eighth, apply borax (0.3%) during flowering to boost fruit set, and follow up with urea (0.3%) after flowering to aid nutrient conversion.
After harvest, apply top-dressing with organic fertilizer (around 150 kg) to replenish nutrients and improve flower bud quality. In early September, add fermented manure (about 4,000 grams per tree) or 300 kg of organic fertilizer to build up nutrient reserves for the next season.
Finally, during bloom, use feather dusters for manual pollination, brushing them across flowers 4–5 times to increase the chances of successful fertilization. These combined efforts will help improve both fruit quality and yield.