As soon as the sap starts to rise in the trees in late February/early March we start our tree orchard management up until flowering in mid- April. This involves manipulating supple 2 year old branches into manageable horizontal positions to optimize cropping potential. We also ensure that the tree has the correct nutritional status to cope with the stress of flowering, and feed it accordingly.

Penny tree at fruitlet stage, May 06

Prior to flowering we put up our cherry netting system which is supported by a series of poles and wires above the rows of trees. These are erected now to protect the flowers and developing soft leaves from pigeons which can devastate a crop. The nets also stop the birds eating the cherries when they are ready. The flowering period will last for between 10-14 days depending upon the weather conditions. Once the fruitlet is set, at petal fall, we have our first indication as to the potential of the crop.

It's now vitally important that we constantly maintain the correct nutrients within the tree, feeding them via a balanced nutritional program. This is achieved through the use of leaf and sap analysis and the nutrients applied accordingly. This process, and general orchard management is maintained right through until you come and pick your delicious cherries!

Once the harvest is completed and enjoyed we're already starting to think about next year's crop and will continue to feed the trees to replace lost nutrients from the stress of harvest. This ensures the trees go into the winter as healthy as possible. We also now take down the nets and start the process of pruning each tree to cut out any competitive branches and ensure sufficient light and air for each tree. This also encourages new growth to replace older branches and keeps a healthy young tree. During the winter months we spend our time mending the nets and carrying out general maintenance on the orchard and the farm and hopefully find time for a quick holiday before it all starts again!