my cherry tree

[rita1]

my cherry tree has arrived, it's just started to flower, i have soaked it for 2 hours and potted it in a 30L tub, i put manure in the bottom and john innes no:3 in, and gave it a good soak, i have left it in the greenhouse.
have i done everything correctly as this is my first tree, i have a peach and apple tree on order as well.
do i need to feed anything else to the cherry tree. can i leave it in the greenhouse until the frost has gone completely.
any advice would be great.

[orangepippin]

I don't think you necessarily need to put it in a greenhouse. Was it bare-root or in a pot?

For planting in a pot it is a good idea to mix normal topsoil with the John Innes, this prevents it drying out too easily.

What rootstock is the tree grafted on - this will help determine how big the pot will need to be eventually (although 30L should be OK for a year or so).

[rita1]

my cherry tree

hi just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on my tree please, it's a sunburst dwarf cherry i received it on Friday i have potted it up in a 30L pot, it's 2 years old.
as you can see from the photo it has a very long main branch which is over 5 feet tall, then lower down i have a few branches, should i cut the main branch lower or leave it that tall, this is my first tree so not sure what to do.
http://i49.tinypic.com/4q28o0.jpg

[veggiechicken]

Its best to prune cherry trees in summer as there is a risk of disease if you do it now. You may find this useful Cherries: sweet / Royal Horticultural Society

[rita1]

thank you for answering so quickly, it came bare root and it said it will not grow much bigger then 6 -7 feet, it's potted in organic manure at the bottom and john innes 3 with a small amount of bone meal mixed with it. do you think i should cut back the main stem, or leave it be.

[orangepippin]

How old was the tree when it was supplied? If it is a 1-year tree then it would probably be a good idea to cut it back to around 1m ... but you really need to check with the supplier first.

[rita1]

thank you for that link veggiechicken, it's all exciting with the weather at last getting warmer.
i have it in a pot for now but i think eventually it will go on my south facing wall.

[rita1]

it is 2 years old.

[veggiechicken]

I wonder if the Mods could merge your two threads as orangepippin is answering on the other one http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ved_71010.html

[rita1]

yes sorry about that i don't know what happened there, i must of started up another.

[orangepippin]

For a 2-year old bare-root tree you would perhaps shorten the main branches by a third of last season's growth. This helps the tree re-establish the balance between the aerial part and the roots - since the roots will inevitably have been damaged during the transplanting process.

Does it say what rootstock is used? The most likely are Gisela 5 or Colt ... both will probably need a bigger pot in a couple of years, particularly if it is on Colt.

[rita1]

thank you, i am hoping maybe to put it in the garden next year. i was a bit worried about pruning it as it's a cherry, i was going to wait until the end of summer but as it won't fruit this year i cut it back anyhow.
i am still waiting for my peach and apple tree.

[orangepippin]

There is no substitute for checking with the supplier, as they will be in the best position to advise what pruning is needed if any.

[rita1]

can i put raspberry bushes next to my tree

i have a couple of raspberry bushes and i wanted to know if i can put them next to my fruit tree.

[veggiechicken]

I thought your tree was in a pot
Raspberries don't make bushes - just a couple of canes - but these can grow quite tall, depending on variety. Summer and Autumn fruiting raspberries are pruned differently .