CHARACTERISTICS:
- The cherry trees are living in warm temperate zones of the northern hemisphere.
- The two best known species in Europe and western Asia are the sweet cherry or wild cherry (prunus avium) and cherry acid or sour cherry (prunus cerasus).
- They are a lot of wild cherry trees that are exploited to make jams, cakes and drinks.
PARTS OF CHERRY TREE:
- Root: Cherry tree's root system serves two critical functions. First, it pulls water and nutrients from the soil and directs them upward so that they can feed the trunk, stems, leaves, flowers and fruit of the tree. Second, it holds tight to the ground and supports the rest of the tree, allowing the tree's structure to perform its own functions.
- Trunk: The trunk can reach 25 m tall, with smooth bark, ringed, reddish brown with transverse bands. It is used in cabinetmaking and to make musical instruments.
- Leaves: Its length is 7,5 - 12,5 cm and 3,5 - 5 cm with a margin irregularly serrated.
- Flowers: White or pink, 2-3 cm in diameter that apperar before or while leaves. They have 5 sepals, 5 while petals, numerous stamens and pistils; 2-6 are grouped petals, sorrounded at the base by a crown.
- Fruits: Cherries bouquets.
- Pollination: The cherry trees are pollinated by bees.
GROW AND REPRODUCTION:
They are hermaphroditic (both sexes in every flower). They contain (or none) seed within a bone. It is reproduced burying its seeds in autumn. They will be born in the first or second spring. If you scrape bones rubbing against hard and rough surface (sand, lime, stone ...) facilitate the entry of moisture and germinate before and better.
Cultivation from seed is a long process and requires a lot of care. The seed should be soaked with water at least 24 hours before it is planted, and this first planting should be in a small space under a thin layer of soil that is to be monitored closely until it germinates. For beginners it is preferable to get a cutting or a small tree. This will give you best guarantee of success. It should be planted in winter and it is desirable to add organic fertilizer to the soil. Preferably requires a chalky, fresh and deep soil, but adapts to all soils very well as long as the water runs.
Cherry is able to be pollinated with pollen from its own variety. The best pollinators are bees. Flowering is the period spanning from the opening of the first flower until the fall of the last petals and cherry requires at least 50% of flowers properly pollinated to give a cherry harvest conditions, so this is very important.
Cultivation from seed is a long process and requires a lot of care. The seed should be soaked with water at least 24 hours before it is planted, and this first planting should be in a small space under a thin layer of soil that is to be monitored closely until it germinates. For beginners it is preferable to get a cutting or a small tree. This will give you best guarantee of success. It should be planted in winter and it is desirable to add organic fertilizer to the soil. Preferably requires a chalky, fresh and deep soil, but adapts to all soils very well as long as the water runs.
Cherry is able to be pollinated with pollen from its own variety. The best pollinators are bees. Flowering is the period spanning from the opening of the first flower until the fall of the last petals and cherry requires at least 50% of flowers properly pollinated to give a cherry harvest conditions, so this is very important.
THE CHERRY FRUIT:
- The cherry belongs to the group of stone fruit.
- It has dark red or almost black smooth skin. Fleshy meat is moist and usually red.
- Cherry is rich source of vitamins C. Sour cherry also contains vitamin A.
- Cherries have low caloric value. 100 g of cherries have only 63 calories.
- Cherries can be consumed raw, or as part of various sweet and salty dishes.
- Cherries are popular and often used in the industries of jams, jellies, ice-creams, marmalades, sauces and juices.
- Scientific experiments showed that cherries have potential to reduce inflammation and sensation of pain in rats.
- Around two million tons of cherries are produced each year. Turkey is the greatest manufacturer of cherries in the world, followed by the United States, China, Spain, Chile, Japan and Australia. In Spain they are produced in Valle del Jerte (Extremadura)
- Fruit production starts 3 to 4 years after planting. Tree reaches maturity after seven years.
- One tree produces around 7000 cherries per year.
- Cherry tree can survive and produce fruit around 100 years.
FUN FACTS:
- I chose this beautiful tree because in the garden of my grandmother's village, in La Vera, very close to Valle del Jerte (Extremadura) grow too easily and it is my favorite fruit.
- It originated in Asia and brought to Rome Lucullus, a roman general, and Romans spread their culture throughout the Mediterranean sea.
- In Roman mythology he is related to Venus and it was considered a symbol of innocence. It has also been linked to the dark and magical, wizards and warlocks of the Middle Ages used a cherry branch to perform their spells.
- In Japan the cherry tree is named Sakura.
- The tails of cherries are very good to help in the treatment of rheumatic diseases and the skin and the flowers for the circulatory system.
- But cherries tree, like the rest of trees prunus genus contains in its seeds, flowers and leaves hydrocyanic acid (cyanide) a powerful poison. Poisonings have been detected in animals, especially pigs, and causes them choking, vomiting, dizziness, increased heart rate, respiratory arrest and death.
- The story of George Washington cutting down the cherry tree is very famous in the United States. It was first published in 1806.
- Do you know who killed my cherry ?.
And little George can not lie and confessed. His father looked at him and said:
- I'm glad you had the courage to tell the truth. I prefer to be honest and brave to have a whole garden with the best trees. Never forget, my son.
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