Australian Cherry Production Guide

Australian CherryProduction GuideJuly 2011

This publication has been compiled byPaul JamesRural Solutions SAC/- Lenswood CentreLenswoodSouth Australia 5240Phone(08) 8389 8800Mobile0419 826 956Fax(08) 8389 8899E-mailpaul.james@sa.gov.auA special acknowledgement is given to Ms Penelope Measham and Ms Penny Domeney fromthe Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research for their contributions to this manual as coauthors of the “Rain and it’s Impacts” and the “Pest and Diseases” sections.The assistance of Ken Tobutt, Infruitec, Stellenbosch, South Africa (formerly East Malling) forinformation on pollen incompatibility is also gratefully acknowledged.A special acknowledgement is given to Ms Karen Watson and Mr Allan Mayne for theirdiligent editing of this publication.Other key personnel who assisted with the compilation of this manual are listed in theacknowledgements section.Funding Sources & Collaborative Institutions2

DisclaimerThis publication has been prepared only as a general information guide forcherry production in Australia.Whilst all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this document,Rural Solutions SA, the Department of Primary Industries and ResourcesSouth Australia, and the crown in the right of South Australia do not acceptany liability for any damage caused by, or economic loss arising from relianceupon information contained in this publication.Users should note that the information given is of a general nature and doesnot necessarily reflect a specific set of industry conditions.No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, ortransmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,photocopying or otherwise without the prior permission of Cherry GrowersAustralia Inc.For any corrections or suggestions on information contained in thispublication, please contact Cherry Growers of Australia Inc.3

PrefaceBy World standards the Australian Cherry Industry is a small produce of cherries but theopportunities for growth in production and productivity exists. Over the years since cherryproduction commenced Australian growers have been inventive and innovative. At times theyhave been quick to take up new ideas, research and varieties and at other times they havebeen world leaders in their ‘craft’.The Australian Cherry industry has a mix of older established businesses and some new andat times inexperienced operators. No matter when growers entered the business of growing,harvesting and marketing cherries the one constant has been the desire to learn more abouttheir ‘craft’.The new edition of the Australian Cherry Production Guide is now the most up to date andpractical guide for past, current and future cherry growers to assist them in understanding andimproving their ‘craft’.The Australian Cherry Production Guide has been developed over many years startingwith some work undertaken by Wayne Boucher from Tasmania. This information was thenused as the basis of the Cherry Manual produced by the Cherry Growers of South Australia.Through some funding from the Australian Government, Cherry Growers of Australia Inc hasbeen able to build on the sound base of this past work, expand the contribution of informationfrom specific researchers and mould the information into a truly national manual.The work undertaken by Paul James, Senior Horticultural Consultant from Rural Solutions SAshould not be under-estimated. The time and effort to write and re-write sections, add newinformation and format this into a most useable ‘tool’ has been immense. All endeavors havebeen made to make this manual as inclusive of relevant and accurate information that couldbe found within Australia and across the world. The team of experts that have collaborated onthis manual are most impressive. Support from growers from within South Australia andacross Australia has also been most valuable. The Australian Cherry Industry is indebted toall who have contributed their time, skills and knowledge to the tasks allotted within theproduction of the Australian Cherry Production Guide.The Manual is a ‘tool’ to be used by all Australian Cherry growers in the production of highquality cherries sought by consumers with Australia and all points of the globe. Mostimportantly this is not a static document because as of today some of this information hasbeen superseded by new and more relevant information. The challenge for Cherry Growers ofAustralia Inc is to maintain this document as a ‘fluid’ document ensuring that it is regularly updated and kept current.The Australian Cherry Production Guide is one of the last components of the AustralianCherry Industry ‘toolkit’. All involved should be proud of the work undertaken to achieve sucha comprehensive and useable document.I commend the 2010 Australian Cherry Production Guide to ALL Australian CherryGrowers. Use it to become the best cherry growers in the International markets.Tim Reid - Cherry Growers Australia Inc. April 2010Trevor M Ranford – CEO, Cherry Growers Australia until December 2010.Simon Boughey – CEO, Cherry Growers Australia from January 2011.4

AcknowledgementsThe following people and organisations are sincerely and gratefully acknowledged for theircontributions to this publication.Grower Reference GroupSimon CornishDavid LeonardGrant WottonAndrew FlavellNick NoskeAllan MayneKym GreenIan SparnonJohn JeffsMichael StaffordCo-authorsThe invaluable assistance of Penelope Measham and Penny Domeney from the TasmanianInstitute of Agricultural Research is sincerely acknowledged for their contributions to thispublication as co-authors of the “Rain and it’s Impacts” section and the “Pest and Diseases”section.ContributorsNationalSimon BougheyTrevor RanfordElisa TsengCEO Cherry Growers Australia Inc from January 2011CEO - Cherry Growers Australia Inc to December 2010Horticulture Australia LtdNew South WalesJeremy BrightSean BrindleNew South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesNew South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesQueenslandClinton McGrathDougal RussellQueensland Department of Employment, EconomicDevelopment and InnovationQueensland Department of Employment, EconomicDevelopment and InnovationSouth AustraliaDarren GraetzDanny Le FeuvreBrian HughesSouth Australian Research & Development InstituteAustralian Bee ServicesRural Solutions SATasmaniaAnna SteinhauserKaren WatsonNick HansenAndrew HallFruit Growers Tasmania / Cherry Growers of Australia IncFruit Growers Tasmania / Cherry Growers of Australia IncCherries Tasmania OrchardsTop QualVictoriaTony AllenBas van den EndeCliff ReisboroughKen GauldionVictorian Cherry AssociationAdvanced HorticultureCherryHill OrchardsHorticultural AdvisorWestern AustraliaMax Arif,Martine CombretCherry Growers Association of Western Australia Inc.Department of Agriculture and Food Western AustraliaInternationalDr Kenneth TobuttInfruitec Stellenbosch, South Africa5

CONTENTSDisclaimer . 3Preface. 4Acknowledgements.5CONTENTS . 6INTRODUCTION . 12AUSTRALIAN CHERRY PRODUCTION . 13Overview – global context . 13Australian Cherry Production and Consumption . 14CHARACTERISTICS OF AUSTRALIAN CHERRY PRODUCTION . 15Cherry Production in New South Wales . 16Cherry Production in Victoria . 18Cherry Production in South Australia . 20Cherry Production in Tasmania . 23Cherry Production in Western Australia . 25Cherry Production in Queensland . 27CHARACTERISTICS OF SWEET CHERRIES . 29CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS . 30Climate and its Impact on Cherry Production . 30Introduction . 30Temperature Summation . 30Climatic Conditions Needed for Commercial Cherry Production . 31Rainfall. 31Temperature . 31Winter temperatures. 31Chilling Requirements . 32Calculation of Chilling . 32Spring Temperatures . 33Frosts. 34Maximum and Minimum Temperatures . 34Temperature Assessments . 35Growing Season Climatic Conditions . 35Wind . 35PRODUCTION ASPECTS OF SWEET CHERRIES. 37Planning Your Orchard . 37Introduction . 37Orchard Profitability . 39Site Selection . 39Regional Location . 39Rain Susceptibility . 40Soil Drainage . 40Soil Type and Fertility . 40Topography . 40Water Quality . 40Other Factors to Consider . 41Varieties (Cultivars) . 42Variety Descriptions and Trends . 44Early Maturing Regions . 44Newer early season varieties. 45Mid - Late Maturing Regions . 46Australian Bred Varieties . 49Future releases: . 506

Rootstocks . 51Factors to consider in selecting a cherry rootstock . 51Rootstocks currently used in Australia . 56Dwarfing and Semi-dwarfing rootstocks . 57Flowering, Pollination and Fruit Set. 60Flowering of Sweet Cherries . 60Flower Structure . 60Floral Initiation . 61Cultural factors influencing floral initiation . 61Factors that affect flower development . 61Pollination and Fruit Set . 63Pollen Sources. 63Pollen Incompatibility Groups . 63Flowering times . 66Providing for Pollination . 67Placement of Pollenisers . 67Bees . 69Strength and number of hives . 70Grower assessments of hive activity . 71Timing of Hive introduction . 72Using introduced hives . 72Warning . 73Hive removal . 73Chemical spray applications and bees. 73Useful websites . 74Effective pollination period . 74Plant nutrition and fruit set . 75Cherry Fruit Development . 76Nursery tree quality . 78What is a quality tree? . 78Tree price vs quality (low cost vs “cheap” trees) . 78Tree Specifications . 79Nurseries Supplying Cherry Trees . 80Tree Training Systems . 81Traditional vase systems (Low density vs high density). 82“Bush” systems . 82Development of “Bush” systems for Australian conditions . 83The KGB System . 83Hedged Spanish Bush . 86Aussie Bush system . 87Axis-Centre Leader System . 88Using Cytolin to develop a Centre leader tree . 90Tatura trellis. 91Constructing the trellis . 91Establishing trees on the Trellis . 95Training sweet cherries on Tatura trellis . 97Standard Tatura trellis . 97Photo: The Boag Family, Ashbourne, South Australia Mini Taturatrellis . 99Mini Tatura trellis . 100Enhancing fruit quality. 101Quality of flower buds. 101Enhancing leaf to fruit ratios . 101Annual renewal pruning. 1017

Cherry Crop Loading . 102Use of Plant Growth Regulators . 104Plant growth regulator use in Australian cherry production . 106Gibberellic acid (GA3) applications to fruit . 106CULTURAL PRACTICES . 108Strategies in Replanting/Planting New Orchard Blocks . 108Replanting orchards . 108Specific replant disease (SRD) . 109Nematodes. 109Basic soil requirements . 109Soil pH: . 109Alkaline soils . 111Sub soil pH . 111Other soil amendments . 111Soil mulches . 111Fumigat

The Australian Cherry Production Guide is one of the last components of the Australian Cherry Industry ‘toolkit’. All involved should be proud of the work undertaken to achieve such a comprehensive and useable document. I commend the 2010 Australian Cherry Production Guide to ALL Australian Cherry Growers.