LAPINS CHERRY TREE - Ask Extension
I planted a 4-5' Lapins Cherry tree on 05/08/22. On 07/24/22 I discovered a blossom on new growth!
1) Is this out of the ordinary, and 2) when s...
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LAPINS CHERRY TREE #802816
Asked July 24, 2022, 9:42 PM EDT
I planted a 4-5' Lapins Cherry tree on 05/08/22. On 07/24/22 I discovered a blossom on new growth!
1) Is this out of the ordinary, and 2) when should a Lapins normally blossom? 3) What is the best way to protect fruit blossoms after having 70 degree weather in February and then a hard freeze 3 weeks later?
I searched the internet and could not find answers. Thank you for your expert advise in advance.
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Thanks for contacting the Jefferson County Extension Plant Diagnostic Clinic.
Cherry trees flower fairly early in spring, depending on where in the landscape they are planted and the kind of winter weather we have. Typically they bloom in early to mid April.
Because yours was just planted this year, it may have had a flower bud from wherever it was grown, probably in a container. That bud was aberrant and not what you would normally expect to bloom in summer.
You definitely identified the challenge of growing almost any fruit tree in the Front Range - even in a 'normal' cold winter blooming trees can be hit with a hard mid to late April frost that kills blooms (or a heavy snow as we had in May, though that wasn't too cold the snow load could damage trees). And if the winter is unseasonably warm that could encourage trees to bloom somewhat earlier and be more likely to be hit by a freeze.
There is not a lot to do to prevent freeze damage, though there are various 'garden quilts' that provide 3-4 degree protection, so down to maybe 28 degrees (if it gets much colder the quilt doesn't offer much protection but one never knows exactly how cold any spot in a yard actually will reach.). I used to cover my apple trees (cherries didn't seem to bloom as early) with these quilts, but it is not easy and once the trees got large I just resigned myself to losing some fruit. This might be worth the effort while your tree is still small.
1202 – Cherries – PlantTalk Colorado (colostate.edu)
This tree should generally do well but there will be disappointing years.
PAB, volunteer Jeffco plant clinic master gardener
Cherry trees flower fairly early in spring, depending on where in the landscape they are planted and the kind of winter weather we have. Typically they bloom in early to mid April.
Because yours was just planted this year, it may have had a flower bud from wherever it was grown, probably in a container. That bud was aberrant and not what you would normally expect to bloom in summer.
You definitely identified the challenge of growing almost any fruit tree in the Front Range - even in a 'normal' cold winter blooming trees can be hit with a hard mid to late April frost that kills blooms (or a heavy snow as we had in May, though that wasn't too cold the snow load could damage trees). And if the winter is unseasonably warm that could encourage trees to bloom somewhat earlier and be more likely to be hit by a freeze.
There is not a lot to do to prevent freeze damage, though there are various 'garden quilts' that provide 3-4 degree protection, so down to maybe 28 degrees (if it gets much colder the quilt doesn't offer much protection but one never knows exactly how cold any spot in a yard actually will reach.). I used to cover my apple trees (cherries didn't seem to bloom as early) with these quilts, but it is not easy and once the trees got large I just resigned myself to losing some fruit. This might be worth the effort while your tree is still small.
1202 – Cherries – PlantTalk Colorado (colostate.edu)
This tree should generally do well but there will be disappointing years.
PAB, volunteer Jeffco plant clinic master gardener
