Tree Growth and Development
Harvest
Choosing a Variety
Pollination Requirements
Soil requirements
Chokecherry Pests
Tree Growth and Development
3-4 years flowering and fruiting
5th year full fruit production
10th year mature size is reached
Harvest
Fruit is generally harvested around the end of August to the beginning
of September depending on the variety of the tree and the climate during
the growing season. The fruit is a berry-like drupe containing a
large stone that varies in color from black to red and even yellow.
Once chokecherries are harvested they are generally used for processing.
Choosing a Variety
When choosing a variety of chokecherries to produce, a grower should
choose a variety that is native to their region. This will ensure
that the chokecherry orchard will be hardy enough to survive the growing
conditions. A grower must remember that two varieties are needed
in order for pollination to occur.
Varieties:
Prunus virginiana var. demissa - western
chokecherry
-found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and adjoining
states
-highly suckering
-4-6m (15-18ft) tall
-black fruit
-heart-shaped leaves with pubescence on the underside
Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa - black
chokecherry
--found in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and adjoining
states
2 forms:
melanocarpa
purple to black fruit
xanthrocarpa
yellow fruit
Prunus virginiana var. virginiana - red
chokecherry
-largest tree
-15m (45ft) tall
-leaves thin, oval and light green
-very adstringent
-dull red fruit
2 forms:
virginiana
crimson to deep red fruit
leucocarpa
whitish to yellowish and amber fruit
Pollination Requirements
-need two or more varieties
-for ease of identification use one variety with green leaves and the
other with red leaves
Soil requirements
-widely adapted
Best soils
-deep sandy loam
-pH between 6 and 8
Chokecherry Pests
Insects are a common problem found when raising chokecherries.
Whenever a plant that is native is used as a crop, native insects have
also evolved with the plant. Most insects that infect the chokecherry
tree do not cause permanent damage and very little yield loss. Most
insect infestations result in defoliating the tree causing it to be unsightly
until it can grow back. This is a large problem for pick-your-own
producers because it deters customers from picking the fruit in fear that
it may also be infected. There are a select few that cause large
amounts of damage to both the plant and a growers yield.
Prairie
Tent caterpillar (Malacocoma californicum lutescens)
Fruittree
Leafroller (Archips argyrospila)
Chokecherry
midge (Condtarinia virginianae)
Chokecherry
Aphid (Rhopalosiphum cerasifoliae)
Ugly
Nest Caterpillar (Archips cerasivorana)
Fall
Webworm (Hyphantria cunea)
Prairie
Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma californicum lutescens)
Life cycle:
-larvae emerge from eggs soon after leaf emergence
-mid-July larvae are full-grown
-adult emerges early august
-eggs are laid soon after
Identifying the Pest:
-obvious tent-like webs on the branches
-larvae:
-blueish-grey sides
-reddish-orange backs with a white stripe down the center
-larvae reach 40-50mm in length
-eggs:
-covered with a grayish foam-like substance
-found on twigs and branches
Damage:
- temporary defoliation and deformation
-reduced vigor of the plant
Control:
-destroy tents on cool days when larvae are inside
-remove and destroy egg masses in winter or late fall
Fruittree
Leafroller (Archips argyrospila)
Life cycle:
-larvae emerge in late May from eggs
-Adults present throughout July
-eggs deposited in round masses on twigs and branches
Identifying the Pest:
-larvae roll and tie several leaves together
larvae:
-green to brownish-green body
-light-brown to black head
-maximum size 20-25mm
eggs:
-found in round masses
Damage:
-larvae feed on flower buds, blossoms, young fruit and leaves
-larvae feed within the rolled leaves
Control
-remove and destroy rolled leaves with larvae inside
Chokecherry
midge (Condtarinia virginianae)
Life Cycle:
-adults emerge in late May or early June during flowering
-infested fruit contain an average of 15 larvae
-mid to late July full grown larvae drop to the ground where they overwinter
Identifying the Pest
-fruit is enlarged and pear-shaped
Larvae:
-found inside fruit
-orange in color
-maximum size 3mm
Damage:
-misshapen fruit appears early July
-non-viable seed
-significant fruit loss
Control:
-remove and destroy infested fruit immediately after they appear
-reduces damage the following year
Chokecherry
Aphid (Rhopalosiphum cerasifoliae)
Identifying the pest:
-pear-shaped, fragile insect
-gray in color
Damage:
-removes plant sap from leaf tissue
-plants may become temporarily disfigured and unsightly
Control:
-remove curled, infested leaves when damage is first noticed
Ugly
Nest Caterpillar (Archips cerasivorana)
Life Cycle:
-larvae emerge from eggs in spring
-adults emerge in late August to early September
-eggs are laid when adults emerge
Identifying the Pest:
-tent-like webs can be found on branches
Larvae:
-yellowish to greenish-yellow body
-black heads
-maximum size is 20-25mm in length
Eggs:
-covered with gray foam-like substance
-found on twigs and branches
Damage:
-larvae feed on foliage within the tent
-defoliation may cause temporary disfigurement
-no permanent damage is caused
Control:
-pick off egg masses in late fall to reduce damage
-remove and destroy tents containing larvae
Fall Webworm
(Hyphantria cunea)
Life cycle:
-adults emerge from late June to mid July
-egg masses deposited when adults emerge
-larvae emerge in late July
-larvae overwinter in the ground as pupae
Identifying the Pest:
-nests of webbing initially enclose a few leaves and expand to cover
entire branches
Larvae:
-yellow to dark brown bodies
-covered with long hairs
-maximum size 25mm
Damage:
-larvae defoliate the tree
-temporary disfigurement
-damage is caused late in the season
Control:
-remove and destroy egg masses and nests
http://www.wsu.edu/~wsherb/images/Rosaceae/prunusvirg.html
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/544.htm
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/545.htm