By the time the treey finally produces a good crop (after 6 to 10 years), most of the fruits are out of reach. Trees that are grafted on GiSelA® rootstocks, will remain considerably smaller and – an additional important advantage – often flower and crop earlier. Characteristics of the cultivar like fruit color, ripening time and taste are not altered by the rootstock.

 

Development of the GiSelA® rootstocks

 

In commercial orchards big cherry trees are not profitable due to high harvesting costs and most home gardens are too small for big trees. Therefore, about 50 years ago, Prof. Werner Gruppe and his staff at Giessen university started a breeding program to develop dwarfing rootstocks for sweet cherries.

 

Starting from crossings of several wild species of cherries, a long term selection with more than 6000 seedlings started. The result are the GiSelA® rootstocks (the name derives from “Giessen Selection”). For commercial fruit growing there is a series of GiSelA® types with different levels of size-reduction, which have performed well worldwide since many years.

 

For home gardens, clone GiSelA®5 Gi 1482(S), which is available at many nurseries and garden centers, is recommended. Trees can be kept without problems at a height of 3 to 4 m and can be harvested easily from the ground or a small ladder. Under favorable conditions, a tree on GiSelA®5 Gi 1482(S) will have the first fruit already in the 2. year after planting and full crop from the 4th year on.

 

 

Successful cultivation of trees GiSelA® rootstock

Considerations before buying a tree

 

Soil: Cherries thrive on a wide range of different soil types. Only on heavy wet soils, it is not advisable to plant a cherry tree.

 

Site: The tree needs a sunny, airy place. As cherries bloom early and the flowers are sensitive to frost, areas with frequent late frosts in spring should be avoided.

 

Tree area: The cherry tree on GiSelA® rootstock requires a minimum of 10 m² (this corresponds to a canopy diameter of 3 to 4m).

 

Choice of cultivar: Nurseries and garden centers offer many cultivars on conventional, strong growing rootstocks, as well as small trees on GiSelA® rootstocks.

Most sweet cherry cultivars are self-incompatible and need another cultivar in the neighborhood for pollination, which blooms about the same time. If this is not the case, self-fruitful cultivars offer an alternative. Nurseries can give you advice.

 

Choice of the tree: Young trees on GiSelA® rootstock are vigorous, growth will only lessen with begin of cropping.

 

Select a healthy tree with a dominant middle axis (=leader), from which arise – well distributed vertically and around the axis - at least 3-4 flat, not too strong laterals. Laterals should not be inserted too densely, in order to provide for good light and air penetration in the later crown.

 

Irrigation and fertilization: In order to ensure sufficient water supply for the young tree, the soil under the canopy has to be kept free from weed and extra water has to be applied during dry periods in the first years.

 

Fertilizer is always supplied to the total area covered by the canopy. Depending on soil quality and supply, the following standard values apply: 30g complete fertilizer per m² canopy area at the beginning of shoot growth and the same amount again after blossom.

GiSelA® rootstocks for
your garden