Winter: Rest, Recharge and Ready for Next Season

Winter might feel like the off-season, but out here on the orchard, it’s anything but idle. While the cherry trees themselves take a well-earned rest, the team stays busy behind the scenes making sure everything is prepped and ready for a cracking season ahead.

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First up — dormancy. Once the leaves have dropped and the temperatures dip, the trees settle into a deep sleep. It’s an essential part of their natural cycle, letting them conserve energy and build strength for spring. And while they’re resting, we roll up our sleeves and get to work. Pruning is a big job through winter, and we’ve just wrapped it up for the season. This involves heading down each row and cutting back old wood, clearing out any crossed or dead branches, and shaping the trees for good airflow and sunlight. It might sound simple, but a proper prune makes a massive difference when it comes to fruit quality later on. Once the branches are sorted, we shift our focus to the ground. Mulching, levelling and orchard floor management all come into play, clearing out debris, managing weeds, and keeping things tidy underfoot. It’s not just for looks, either. A clean floor helps prevent pests and disease from hanging around through the cold months.

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Fertilising also happens during this time, giving the soil a top-up of nutrients. The goal is to set the trees up with everything they’ll need to kick off strong growth come spring. It’s all about that balance between letting nature do its thing and giving it a hand where we can. One thing we’re always keeping an eye on is chill hours. Cherries need a decent dose of cold (around 7°C or under) over winter to develop properly. The right amount of chill is what ensures a good bud set and ultimately leads to a full, even harvest. Too little chill? Not ideal. But so far, Cromwell’s frosty mornings are doing the job nicely We also keep an eye on frost protection, just in case any particularly cold snaps roll through. While the trees are hardy in their dormant state, some extra care can go a long way, especially with young trees or tender buds.

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So that’s winter in a nutshell. Much quieter, yes, but still packed with important prep. We’re really happy with how the orchard’s looking. Rows are mulched, branches are straight, and the place is shaping up tidy. It’s all part of setting ourselves up for a smooth spring and another bumper harvest!! 5 months to go!