Okay, let me tell you about my little adventure with this Royal Rainier cherry tree I planted.
First off, I picked out a good spot in my backyard. It’s a place that gets plenty of sun, you know, ’cause these trees love the light. Then I started digging. Man, it was some work, but I made sure the hole was wide and deep enough for the roots to spread out comfortably.
Next up, I got the tree ready. I soaked its roots in water for a bit to give it a good drink before planting. Carefully, I placed the tree in the hole, making sure it was standing nice and straight. Then I filled the hole back in with soil, tamping it down gently to remove any air pockets.
- I watered the tree really well after planting it. It is important for it to grow, I think.
- I learned that you gotta water it deeply and regularly, especially when it’s hot out.
- Then, I found some balanced fertilizers, and fed my tree. It is a hungry baby.
I also learned that I needed another cherry tree nearby for pollination. I researched and figured out that Emperor Francis, Sweetheart, and Blaze Star are all good buddies for the Rainier. So I picked up a Sweetheart cherry tree ’cause it’s self-fertile and planted that one nearby.
I kept a close eye on my trees, watering them, feeding them, and checking for any pesky bugs or diseases. And guess what? They started to grow! It was slow going at first, but then they really took off.
Pruning
Down the road, I learned about pruning. I read that it’s important to do this in the late winter or early spring. It helps the tree stay healthy and produce more fruit. I watched some videos online and tried my best to follow their instructions. I removed any dead or crossing branches and thinned out the canopy a bit to let more light in.
Finally, after a few years, my trees started to produce cherries! It was so exciting to see those little red and yellow fruits starting to appear. And when they were ripe, I picked them and tasted my first homegrown Royal Rainier cherry. It was amazing!
I heard someone talking about how they harvest these in bulk. They use machines to shake the trees! Can you imagine that? They fill like 120 tanks a shift during the harvest season. Wild!
It’s been a lot of work, but it’s been worth it. There’s nothing like growing your own fruit. And those Royal Rainier cherries? They’re the best I’ve ever tasted!