This week, Success in Agriculture is in a cherry orchard in Sancaklı İğdecik, Şehzadeler, Manisa. Together with the AgroTroia team and farmer Eyüp, we discussed cherry production, nutrition, harvest, and post-harvest applications from A to Z. The result is striking: with a correct cherry nutrition program, around 4 tons of cherries were harvested from 160 trees.
The story of the orchard: trees recovered when they were about to be lost
In the previous season there was serious concern in Eyüp's orchard; the fruit was not growing and the trees were struggling. With the AgroTroia program applied systematically over two years, the orchard achieved a marked jump in both fruit set and quality. The emphasis repeated many times in the episode is this: if the same orchard can be visited two or three years in a row, it means there is real and sustainable success there.
The importance of foliar nutrition
In cherries there is an average critical period of 40 days from flowering to harvest, and the majority of applications made during this time are foliar. In this period, when day-night temperature differences increase and rain is followed the next day by 30-degree heat, supporting the plant through the leaves reduces stress and disease risk. The season begins with Activo and phosphorus products, and continues with regular foliar applications throughout fruit development.
AgroTroia products featured in this episode
Fors - the key product determining calibration and quality in cherries; used in small amounts through drip irrigation, reducing the cost of soil fertilizer.
Calcio (calcium) - reduces cracking; affects stem thickness, flesh firmness, and shelf life. Recommended at least 3 times as a foliar application after petal fall.
Copperas - a product applied to deciduous trees as they enter winter, supporting plant resistance.
Activo - for season-entry and general strengthening applications.
Calcium: the key to cracking and quality
In cherries, calcium is the key element that both reduces cracking and affects quality factors such as stem thickness, pit, and firmness. For this reason, after the petal fall period and especially following rains, at least three foliar calcium applications are recommended. For taste, quality, and shelf life, potassium comes to the fore; in the orchard this need is met mainly with Fors.
The orchard that is not abandoned after harvest
One of the most emphasized messages of the program: do not abandon the orchard once harvest is over. Because the plant gives all its elements to the fruit, the healthy awakening and flowering of the next season lie hidden in post-harvest applications. In cherries, as soon as harvest ends, two applications are made 15 days apart, followed by one post-harvest application; on deciduous trees this is completed with Copperas as they enter winter, and nutrition is suspended until the tree awakens.
Pruning hygiene and cultural measures
Nutrition alone is not enough; pruning, irrigation, and protection form a whole. Whether or not there is disease in the orchard, it is recommended to disinfect pruning tools when moving from one tree to another - otherwise disease can be carried unnoticed. Pruning residues and fallen leaves are removed from the orchard to prevent fungal infections from overwintering. Against the risk of hail, netting/cover systems and drip irrigation are among the cultural measures that should be taken.
Source: AgroTroia - "Success in Agriculture" program, sponsored by AgroTroia.