Cherry Cultivation in Spain

J. Negueroles Pérez
Pomologist
Research Dept. ALM Group
Zaragoza
Spain

Keywords: Prunus avium, P. mahaleb, tree training systems, Spanish bush, rootstocks,
summer pruning

Abstract
Spain is the second largest producer of cherries in Europe and the seventh
largest producer in the world. Cherry cultivation in Spain began with orchards on
calcareous hills without irrigation, which resulted in short trees having low
production but good fruit quality. In the Ebro River Valley, a training system that
has become known as the “Spanish Bush” was developed about 20 years ago. This
system, with various modifications, is now the most popular system in Spain.
Orchards are spaced 4 x 3 m up to 5 x 3 m with short trees (2.5 m). The tree height is
controlled by pruning in the summer and fall, and by restricted irrigation during the
growing season. At planting, the trees are headed at 30 to 40 cm from the ground to
induce primary branching. In the late spring or early summer, the primary
branches are headed back to 4 to 5 buds if the vigor is sufficient to promote
secondary branching. During the second year, the tree is headed a third time in
spring and a fourth time in June-July. The goal is to begin production in the 4th
year. To promote early production, different chemical or mechanical modifications
have gradually been introduced to stimulate branching without pruning. With these
modifications, a large crop can be achieved in the fourth year when little pruning is
imposed during the first three years. Prunus mahaleb (Sta. Lucia 64) rootstock,
which is propagated by cuttings, is used almost universally since it is well-adapted to
the light, rocky and calcareous soils of the cherry production areas in Spain. For 20
years, new varieties developed at different research centers around the world have
been introduced into Spain, providing important new varieties for Spanish growers.

INTRODUCTION
Spain is the second largest producer of sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) in
Europe and is the seventh largest producer in the world. There are 30,000 ha of cherries
grown in Spain, producing about 96,000 mt annually (Table 1). There are 4 primary
production areas: Extremadura (32%), Aragón-Catalonia (34%), Andalusia (10%) and
Valencia (9%). Other areas in Spain produce a total of 14% of the crop. Early season
production areas begin harvest at the end of April and continue through June. Mid-season
production areas harvest from May through June. Late season production areas harvest
from May through July.

History of Cherry Cultivation in Spain

Cherry cultivation in Spain began with orchards on calcareous hills (Fig. 1)
without irrigation, producing trees with low production but good fruit flavor and firm fruit
quality. It was also traditional to plant cherry trees on terraces in the mountains to collect
the little rainfall available. The trees naturally remained relatively small using local
rootstocks such as "Reboldo" (P. avium) and Santa Lucia seedlings (P. mahaleb) which
produced quite heterogeneous orchards. A small number of varieties for fresh
consumption (`Burlat’, `Starking Hardy Giant’, etc.) and for the processing industry
(`Monzon’, etc.) traditionally have been grown. The traditional planting distance has
varied between 5 x 4 m and 6 x 6 m.
With the introduction of irrigation, the cherry acreage was increased on hills as
Proc. 4th IS on Cherry
Ed. G.A. Lang 293
Acta Hort. 667, ISHS 2005
well as in valleys, generally in calcareous soils with medium texture. This changed cherry
cultivation since the trees now grew more vigorously, yields were increased, and new
varieties with greater potential productivity were introduced. A new situation was created
in that the trees grew taller, therefore making intensive planting more difficult, and
forcing the development of new training systems.

1. Rootstocks. P. mahaleb (Sta. Lucia 64), propagated by cuttings, is used almost

universally since it is well-adapted to Spanish soils (light, rocky and calcareous). It
promotes precocity and yields fruit of good quality and size. It should be noted that this
rootstock is sensitive to excessive moisture in the soil. The “Pontaleb” rootstock (P.
mahaleb homogeneous seedling) also is being used in new orchards. In the Jerte Valley
(acid soils), P. avium seedlings and Colt (P. avium × P. pseudocerasus) rootstocks are
common, although the latter tends to produce suckers. These two rootstocks produce
excessively vigorous trees and are not used in other parts of Spain. In heavy soils or when
replanting old orchard soils, P. cerasus (CAB series), MxM 64 and Adara (P. cerasifera)
can reduce the problem of soil fungi in some circumstances. As an experimental approach
to this problem, Marianna (plum) is being used as a rootstock, with Adara serving as an
interstock onto which the sweet cherry variety is grafted. This complex rootstock is being
evaluated in soils with Armillaria problems.
2. Varieties. For 20 years, varieties developed at different research centers around the
world have been introduced into Spain, providing an important aid to the cherry sector.
The adaptation of these varieties to our agroclimatic conditions and to the Spanish Bush
production system have proved interesting for all involved. A group of varieties from the
Summerland breeding program (Canada), initially led by Dr. David Lane and then
continued by Dr. Frank Kappel, has been evaluated in Spain for many years. These
varieties have not only improved Spanish orchards, but they have also surprised the
Canadian researchers in proving to be suitable for low-chilling areas and the mild winters
of Spain (Table 2). This has brought about a general acceptance of these varieties
(`Santina’, `Sonata’, `Sylvia’, `Cristalina’, etc.) in Europe and provided an excellent
example of a high level breeding program. From the breeding program at Cornell
University (Dr. R. Andersen), `Somerset’ (NY-64-76) has shown excellent results for
size, firmness and yield during 18 years of cultivation in Spain.
Likewise, from the breeding programs carried out by Dr. Silviero Sansavini
(Bologna, Italy), Dr. Janos Apostol (Budapest, Hungary) and that in the USA at
Washington State University (Dr. Tom Toyama and his successors, Dr. Gregory Lang and
Dr. Matt Whiting), different varieties have been evaluated or soon will be evaluated. This
type of collaboration is useful for both the breeding programs and the cherry growers in
Spain, since the varieties are tested in different climatic zones and can better express the
diversity of their genetic potential, providing both industry and breeders with more
complete information.

The Spanish Bush System

In the Ebro River Valley, a tree training system, now known as the Spanish Bush
system (Fig. 2), was developed and, with various modifications, is now the most popular
system in Spain. Generally speaking, it is a system that permits, under Spanish conditions,
intensive orchards (4 x 3m to 5 x 3 m) with short trees (2.5 m), good production and early
yields. Tree height is controlled by pruning in the summer and fall, and by restricted
irrigation during the long, dry growing season.

1. The Traditional Spanish Bush System. Dormant-budded trees (3 buds distributed

120º) or one-year-old grafted trees are planted. In the first case, the tree structure is
attained by the 3 well-distributed main branches and with a more balanced growth, but
such a tree is less vigorous than the one-year grafted trees. The trees are headed at 30 to
40 cm from the ground to induce primary branching. In the late spring or early summer of
the same year, the primary branches are headed back to 4 to 5 buds if the vigor is

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sufficient to provide secondary branching (Fig. 3). At the end of the first year, the tree is
small, with 8 to 10 secondary branches. During the second year, the tree is headed a third
time in the spring (Fig. 4) and a fourth time in June-July, producing a tree that is almost
completely formed by the end of the third year (Fig. 5).
The pruning cuts during these first two years are always made according to the
diameter of the branches and not their length. The interior branches are eliminated to
increase light penetration, although to avoid sunburn, it shouldn’t be excessive. Irrigation
should also be reduced to control tree vigor and induce a good crop for the next year. In
the third year, a light crop is obtained and after the fourth year, a medium commercial
crop is produced.

2. The Modified Spanish Bush System. To promote early production in the Spanish
Bush system, different chemical (e.g., Promalin) or mechanical modifications gradually
have been introduced to stimulate branching without pruning. After planting, branching
can be achieved by chemical treatments that inhibit apical dominance, rather than by
pruning. This allows no additional pruning during the summer of the first year. If growth
is sufficient, the branches can be bent at the end of the first or second year by tying them
to trellis wires (Fig. 6). The trellis system consists of a double alignment of wires, parallel
to the tree row, resting on cross arm posts. The distance between wires is 0.75 to 1.0 m.
The cross arm posts are fixed at 30 to 50 cm from the ground and the wires are anchored
to the ground at the end of each row. Tying the branches to the trellis at a 45º angles
reduces the vigor of the tree and promotes early flower bud formation (Fig. 6). A central
leader can be maintained for a short period of time to reduce pruning, promote branching
with good angles, and consequently obtain a precocious and larger crop. At the end of the
first year, the tree will have 4 to 6 primary branches and several other horizontal branches
that won’t be pruned.
During the second year, the basal part of each of the 4 to 6 primary branches is
treated chemically to induce secondary branching without heading the primary branches
or the central leader (if it has been maintained). At the end of the second year, the tree
should have 10 to 12 secondary branches with the main branches and the axis intact,
which will provide flower buds for the next year. During the third year, the trees should
be fully developed and have a reasonable yield, depending on the variety (Fig. 7). The
trellis system can be eliminated at the end of the third year. During the fourth year, a large
crop should be achieved since the tree was pruned very little during the first three years.

3. Summer Pruning. Generally, mechanical topping is used in commercial Spanish Bush

orchards (Fig. 8). It is performed on the top of the tree and also on the sides to increase
light penetration inside the canopy. The time of year can vary, depending on the climatic
zone and the variety. It can be carried out from the end of May to June in the earliest
areas, and at the end of summer in the latest. However, in the hottest zones it should be
done at the end of the summer for several reasons:
1. The very high temperatures typical during June and July in these areas can increase
the percentage of double fruits in the next season. Also, in Spanish climatic conditions,
flower induction/initiation generally occurs in July; therefore, any manipulation of the
trees should be imposed carefully.
2. The potential for sunburned wood increases when previously shaded branches
inside the canopy are re-exposed. This is especially true in weak trees or those that had an
excessive crop.
3. In strong trees, topping too early can cause vigorous regrowth that decreases the
nutrient reserves for the next season. For these reasons, a manual pruning of suckers and
badly positioned branches inside the canopy is recommended; if not, the tree will be
unbalanced. The pruning should be reinforced with topping in September.

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Orchard Management Issues

1. Irrigation. Drip irrigation has become common in Spanish cherry orchards, with one
drip line per row in medium soils and a double line for low fertility and/or sandy soils.
The use of berms is recommended to avoid having rain or irrigation water near the tree
trunk. Reducing irrigation after harvest is absolutely necessary for control of mature tree
growth and productivity. Frequency and amount of irrigation should be reduced
progressively, until the end of August when irrigation is no longer necessary.
2. Fertilization. Normally, fertilization is done through the drip irrigation system
(fertigation) during the growing season. The majority (60 to 70%) of the annual fertilizer
requirement is applied after harvest up until September, although it has to be combined
with a reduction in the amount of irrigation water in order to control tree regrowth. The
main nutritional problems are Mg, Fe, Mn and Zn deficiencies induced by calcareous
soils or unbalanced fertilization (i.e., excessive use of phosphoric acid). A generally
recommended method to correct these problems is to use foliar applications of the
specific nutrients, since cherry trees have a short seasonal growth period. There is an
emerging trend to apply macro- and micro-nutrients at the end of the season (Aug-Sept)
to increase the nutritional reserves of the trees for the next season.
3. Ground Cover Management. The orchard rows usually are left uncultivated and
covered with natural grass, which is mowed several times during the season. The main
reason for this is to leave the root system undisturbed since the P. mahaleb rootstock has
very shallow roots. Pre-emergent and contact herbicides are used in the tree rows.
Sometimes, black plastic is used in the tree row to eliminate weeds, save irrigation water
and warm the ground to advance fruit development.
4. Growth Regulators. Besides the growth regulators used to induce branching during
tree formation, preharvest applications of gibberellic acid (20 ppm) are used to increase
fruit size and firmness. This, however, can delay fruit color and ripening time.
Sometimes, paclobutrazol (Cultar) is used to reduce tree vigor and/or hasten bearing of
certain varieties. This compound also can affect bloom and ripening times. Other
compounds such as Dormex, Armobreak, etc. can influence time of bloom, in some cases
promoting otherwise non-coincident bloom overlap of early varieties with other cross-
pollinated varieties.
5. Diseases. Soilborne fungi, such as Phytophthora, Armillaria, Rosellinia, etc., are the
main problems for cherry trees in Spain. The most damaging and common fruit and
vegetation fungi include Monilia, Botrytis, Septoria, Coryneum, Cylindrosporiosis, etc.,
which can cause very important economical losses during marketing of the fruit. Birds,
another important cause of direct fruit damage, also increase fungi inoculations through
the lesions caused by their pecking.
6. Plastic Coverage. Many systems of plastic rain exclusion covers for cherry trees have
been designed to prevent or reduce cherry cracking, especially in early varieties with a
high economic value. In Spain, several methods have been tried, but none has been 100%
efficient because some varieties crack with a high relative humidity in the atmosphere
even though they have no contact with rainwater. To avoid high humidity, the plastic
structure shouldn’t be enclosed completely, thereby allowing good ventilation inside the
structure. Other disadvantages of these systems are their high cost, and the risk of partial
destruction in strong winds.
7. Harvest. Increasingly, the world cherry market requires large fruit size and high fruit
quality, which often is in opposition to high yields. Therefore, to obtain good quality fruit,
it is necessary to reduce the crop by selective pruning. This can be accomplished in late
summer or early fall with varieties having consistent production every year (`New Star’,
`Sweetheart’, `Lapins’, `Somerset’, etc.). For inconsistently-yielding varieties, spring
pruning during bloom can be more successful. This selective pruning can be considered
as an early thinning of the crop. Selective thinning of the fruit is carried out on a few
farms in Spain. This is done by the elimination of flower buds and/or fruitlets of specific
varieties. These methods are very costly, but result in good fruit size and an earlier crop.

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 Usually, harvest is done from ground level without ladders, using 5 kilo plastic
boxes or plastic bins. Work begins early in the morning, continuing until high
temperatures are reached (normally about noon). Fruit is transported directly to the main
packing plant in refrigerated trucks, or it is cooled by hydro-cooling or a forced-air
system on the farm. Packaging can be done on the farm or at the packing facilities, but in
either case the stems must be cut before the sorting machine separates the fruit by size.
The fruit is packed in 5 kilo boxes, cooled and stored for transportation to the markets.
Several companies have started to introduce modified atmosphere systems for long haul
transportation of the fruit, but this is not yet used extensively. Spanish cherries are
produced mainly for domestic or European markets. The marketing period runs from late
April to the middle of July.

Tables

Table 1. Cherry production statistics for Spain.

Production Area 30,000 ha

Climate Data
Rainfall 250 to 500 mm
Chill hours 600 to 1500
Latitude 43º to 38º
Production by Regions
Extremadura 31,000 mt
Aragón-Catalonia 33,000 mt
Andalusia 10,000 mt
Valencia 9,000 mt
Others 13,000 mt
Total 96,000 mt
Harvesting Zones
Early End of April-June
Middle May-June
Late May-June-July

Table 2. Chilling requirements of cherry varieties under Spanish conditions.

Low Chilling Varieties
(350 to 500 hours)
Medium Chilling Varieties
(550 to 750 hours)
High Chilling Varieties
(800 to 1000 hours)
Ruby, Santina, Lapins, Brooks, Prime Giant, Early Magyar,
E.Bigi, E.Lory, Cashmere, Chelan, Tulare, King
Sonata, Sweetheart, Garnet, Celeste, Newstar, 3-13, Van,
Somerset, Skeena, Sandra Rose, Summer Jewell, Starking
Hardy Giant, Sumesi, Sumele, Summer Charm, Symphony,
Giorgia, Glacier, Primulat, Blaze Star, Lala Star
Summit, Cristalina, Burlat, Sunburst, Sylvia, Canada Giant,
Samba, Kavics, Katalin, Ferrovia, Techlovan

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Figures

Fig. 1. Traditional non-irrigated Spanish cherry trees on calcareous hillside soils. Trees are
3.5 m tall and are spaced 5 x 4 m to 6 x 6 m.

Fig. 2. The Spanish Bush high density training system has small trees (2.5 m tall) spaced 4 x
3 m to 5 x 3 m.

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Fig. 3. Trees trained to the Spanish Bush system are headed a second time in late June of the
first year.

Fig. 4. Trees trained to the Spanish Bush system are headed a third time in the spring of the
second year and again in late June of the second year.
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Fig. 5. In the fourth year, trees trained to the Spanish Bush system are fully formed by
eliminating inside branches to make a vase-shaped tree.

Fig. 6. Primary scaffolds of trees trained to the modified Spanish Bush system are tied down
to the temporary trellis wires.

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Fig. 7. In the third year, trees trained to the modified Spanish bush system are fully formed
and carry a noticeable crop.

Fig. 8. Mature trees trained to the Spanish bush system are mechanically topped following
harvest to limit tree height and improve light penetration into the canopy.

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