Just planted my fruit trees. So far the peach has set fruit. but nothing on the cherry trees.

[DGranny]

Does anyone know what I should be feeding them and when and how often? Just purchased a 5 acre plot, establishing a chicken flock and looking to purchase small goats for milking and meat and also some rabbits for meat.

 

[ducks4you]

Cherry trees take a few years to get big enough to produce fruit. My two Montmorency Cherries were in the ground about 3 years before I saw any fruit, and the birds got the cherries. Last year I harvested enough cherries for about 10 pies. Made a few and canned the rest.
I like to hang damaged CD's to scare away the birds. Non-toxic and good recycling.

 

[Nyboy]

If you have rabbits you might want to plant some mulberry trees. Their leaves make great rabbit food. They are very fast growing.

 

[Smart Red]

Welcome, DGranny! We are glad to have you growing with us. Ditto with @ducks4you. It is rare that newly planted fruit trees -- whose first purpose is to establish a strong root system -- will product fruit. If you have dwarf trees you may have some fruiting next year, but most trees will take a few years before producing.

Congrats on getting that acreage! May you grow and prosper on you new land.

 

[baymule]

Welcome to TEG!!! You will like it here, we will be glad to help you any way we can. Jump in, ask questions, make comments, post pictures-we are so glad that you are here!

 

[catjac1975]

I think you're supposed to remove the fruit the first year or two. If you don't want to reduce the number of fruit to conserve the energy for growth of the tree.

 

[Smart Red]

@catjac1975, there is a pretty good chance that the fruit will drop early from planting stress. I'd take what I could get. If the fruit grows, I picks it when it's ripe. Of course, I don't strip the flowers off the first year's strawberries either.