Sweet cherries occupy a special position in fruit tree pruning. This status is expressed, among other things, in a technical term that is not mentioned for the vast majority of fruit species. This guide explains what a bouquet shoot on the bird cherry tree is all about.
What is a bouquet shoot in sweet cherries?
A bouquet shoot is a short stub of shoots on the biennial or perennial branch of a sweet cherry that bears 5 or more flower buds at the tip. These long-lasting fruit shoots only need a thinning cut every 3 to 4 years to promote the light-flooded crown and rich fruit cover.
Bouquet shoot - definition with explanations
Short shoot stub on a biennial or perennial branch that bears 5 or more flower buds at the tip.
A characteristic feature of sweet cherries is that they have long-lasting fruit wood. The short bouquet shoots form reliably with numerous flower buds that give you the juicy, sweet cherries. The thick flower buds unmistakably gather in dense groups at the tips of the shoots, as shown in the illustration below. In contrast, the internodes of leaf and shoot buds are noticeably longer.
The circularly arranged flower buds of a short bouquet shoot differ significantly from the pointed leaf and shoot buds of a sweet cherry.
Light-flooded crown promotes bouquet shoots
The longevity of fruit wood and bouquet shoots only requires thinning every 3 to 4 years. Remove dead wood, awkwardly positioned and steeply upward branches as well as shoots that compete with the scaffolding branches. In a crown flooded with light, the valuable bouquet shoots continue to thrive and bear rich fruit.
There is no reason to worry if you end up with an empty crown. On the contrary, you have done everything right if an old farmer's rule now applies: A gardener must be able to throw his hat through the crown.
If you look at your sweet cherry next summer, you can admire a light crown, full of vital bouquet shoots.
Tip
Growing a sweet cherry (Prunus avium) in your private garden requires careful consideration. The broad oval crown extends up to 15 meters in all directions. The extensive growth can hardly be controlled through regular pruning measures because cuts rarely heal. Callus is only hesitant to overflow larger wounds, which offers fungi and pests ideal areas to attack.
