My Sam sweet cherry tree

19 years ago

My Sam sweet cherry has always been the least vigorous of my eight sweet cherry trees. I didn't even feel the need to prune it last summer or winter. Here it is, blooming later than any of the other trees, April 15th and hasn't even hit full bloom yet. However, I do have other trees that bloom late like Black Gold, Sweetheart and Hudson that should suffice for pollination.

I had begun to wonder if Sam was unhealthy or diseased in some way. I suspected a canker problem when I noticed a dead spot in the bark near the bottom of the trunk. I could feel a soft spot running a considerable distance up the trunk. I really figured it was diseased and would have to go, which wouldn't be so bad cuz the rasberries seem to be spreading in that direction. Here's a picture:

I decided to get a sharp knife and explore the problem area. I carved out all the dead bark, exposing quite a wound in the tree. It was moist underneath with some cotton-like fungus. The fungus didn't appear to be within the wood and was easily pulled away. What I found was actually quite encouraging. The wound has a healthy lip of healing tissue closing in from each side of it. I may have damaged this a bit but I feel exposing the wound to air and light has done a world of good. I now think Sam's lack of vigor was due to being about 40% girdled. Though it seems well on the road to recovery. Here's a closeup of my surgery:

With any luck, a full recovery is possible. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. On a separate note, I switched to summer pruning last year and early indications are for a bumper crop of pluots, asian plums, euro plums, and peaches, where I've gotten practically none before. After some concrete results are in later in the season I'll post a full summary, but for the time being, I'm sold on summer pruning, particularly on the stone fruits.

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Comments (5)

geraldo
19 years ago
TC, how do you like some of those for eating quality, in particular the Sam, Hudson and Black Gold. I planted a few of those this year and last just to check them out. Wonder if it was a waste of time and money. I was, and am, looking for late blooming pollenizers. I am having a strange pollenizing order this year with the Benton blooming with the Regina, the Kordia blooming with Regina, but the Sandra Rose being late. but I have some very early blooming Reginas.
tcstoehr
Original Author
19 years ago
Sam hasn't produced yet so I can't comment on its qualities. I should be able to this year. Hudson, Black Gold and Sweetheart were put in just last year and so haven't produced yet either. I can tell you that they do all bloom late in the season.
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geraldo
19 years ago
Ok, I guess most of all us in the same boat. I think your pollination times and even order can be very different from mine. As an example, I know that some place back east mentioned their Sandra Rose blooms rather early for them.
How do you expect those varieties to handle the humidity in your area?
I really think you should try Regina, but only on a G5 or G6. It is highly tolerant of BC and essentially resistant to mildew. They have been planting them commercially around The Dalles. You already have the pollenizers.
tcstoehr
Original Author
19 years ago
There's not much humidity here at all, south of Portland, OR. Not a problem whatsoeover. Unless you mean rainfall while the cherries are ripening. For that reason I might get rid of my Early Burlat. It seems the later ripening the better to avoid rain damage. I have considered Regina, and that will be first on my list if I replace any.
Mildew's no problem here either I assure you.
geraldo
19 years ago
I didn't know that humidity wasn't a problem in that area, but I think mildew is a problem with cherries everywhere they are grown. Unless the variety is not susceptible. In Central Washington I have seen mildew come on so fast that the inexperienced grower was forced to stop picking. It cost him tens of thousands of dollars. You might not notice it until you have picked and stored the cherries. Then a little becomes a lot. That is not often a problem with the backyard grower as he consumes the cherries quickly.
I have never thought much of Burlat. And yes, I think the later ripening varieties are just the ticket for everyone.