Cornelian cherry ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips

Plant the cornel correctly

The professional planting sets the course for a Cornelian cherry her charismatic aura unfolds in the garden. Therefore, pay attention to the following workflow:

In autumn, weed the humus-nutrient-rich soil in the sunny location and loosen it deeply
Dig a planting pit with twice the volume of the root ball
Mix the excavation with compost, Horn shavings,(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) Bark humus or leaf soil
Remove the nursery pot to dig the plant as deep in the center as before
Use this method to plant a pollinating variety in close proximity

Care tips

With a targeted care program, the cornel cherry gains a fascinating presence in your garden over the years. We have summarized all relevant measures for you below:

In the first few years, water regularly thoroughly when it is dry
Only water adult shrubs and trees during summer drought
Organic in autumn fertilize with compost and horn shavings
Spread out a nutrient-giving mulch layer made of leaves, compost or bark mulch and keep it fresh
If necessary, prune immediately after flowering
Carefully thin out the shrub or crown every 2 to 3 years

Explicit hibernation is not required. Nevertheless, a protective layer of leaves and needles makes sense in the planting year, as the frost resistance has not yet fully developed.

Which location is suitable?

If the Cornelian cherry finds a sun-drenched location, this advantage is rewarded with an abundant flowering and lush fruit hangings. in the Penumbra The wild fruit trees also thrive as long as there is at least 4 hours of sunlight a day. The shrub proves to be tolerant of the nature of the soil. He likes to stretch his roots in nutrient-rich, humus-rich, fresh and permeable soil, which is structured from slightly acidic to neutral to slightly calcareous.
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The correct planting distance

Cultivated as a shrub, the Cornelian cherry develops an expansive habit that almost corresponds to its height. So that the ornamental wood can develop unhindered, we recommend planting 1 specimen for every 4 square meters of garden area. Please note a distance of at least 200 cm to the neighboring property and to traffic routes. If the shrub lines up in a natural hedge, you are right with a distance of 150-200 cm between the plants. The pollinator does not necessarily have to be cultivated as a neighboring plant. It is sufficient if this is located within the garden.

What soil does the plant need?

The Cornelian cherry feels in good hands in fresh, moist, humus-rich and nutrient-rich soil. Primarily, the soil should be deep and loosely structured so that the roots can establish themselves unhindered. It is beneficial for growth, abundance of flowers and fruit clusters if the pH value is in the neutral to slightly acidic range.

What is the best time to plant?

Autumn is the best time to welcome the new guest in the garden. Choose a dry, overcast day between late August and early November. At this time the soil is deeply warmed and offers the young roots excellent growth conditions. As long as the ground is not frozen, there is nothing against planting trees. During a mild winter, this can still be the case in December, January or February.

When is the flowering time?

The flowering time of a Cornelian cherry extends from March to April. Under favorable weather conditions, the flower festival starts at the end of February. The sword of Damocles of frozen buds hovers over such an early bloom. So that the flowers are not damaged, wrap the crown in jute or overnight when the ground frosts are announced Garden fleece.

Cut the cornel correctly

As a classic early bloomer, cut the cornel into shape immediately after flowering. Proceed as cautiously as possible, as with each cut the seed heads could fall victim to the fruit curtain. How to do it right:

Shorten shoots that are too long by a maximum of a third immediately after flowering
Make each incision just above an outward-facing eye
At the same time, thoroughly remove dead wood and stunted growth from the shrub or crown
Whole branches on High trunk always on Astring cut, cut close to the ground on the shrub

To prevent the shrub from becoming bald from the inside, it should be thinned out thoroughly at least every 2-3 years. An old farmer's rule says that in the end a hat thrown into the wood should fall through to the ground.
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Pour the cornel cherry

In the first years of standing, a young Cornelian cherry is dependent on a regular water supply. Older, well-rooted trees regulate their water balance largely self-sufficiently. Water the shrub regularly until the age of five, when the soil has dried up. It is an advantage if you water thoroughly 2 to 3 times a week during the summer dry season instead of moving the watering can every day. Let that Water hose Run for 20 to 30 minutes without damaging waterlogging. A regularly renewed layer of bark mulch or leaves keeps the soil moist and warm for longer.

Fertilize the cornel correctly

In order to supply the early blooming Cornelian cherry with sufficient nutrients at the start of the season, it receives a well-measured portion of compost with horn shavings as early as autumn. This makes sense insofar as organic fertilizers only start working at temperatures well above 10 degrees Celsius. The administration of natural fertilizers in February or March therefore comes to nothing. If the fruits are intended for consumption, we advise against the use of minerals Complete fertilizer as the chemical components can accumulate in the pulp.

Overwinter

The Cornelian cherry is completely hardy and does not require any special precautions for the winter time. In the year of planting, however, we recommend spreading a protective layer of bark mulch, compost or leafy soil over the root disc. In addition, the buds and flowers are protected with a breathable hood from late winter onwards, when goddamn frost strikes.

Propagate Cornelian cherry

In order to propagate a wild fruit tree such as the Cornelian cherry, you have the choice between the following approaches:

Cut the head cuttings in April / May and let them take root in the pot
Pull the side shoots to the ground as sinkers, cover the middle with soil, fix them and wait for the roots to develop
In autumn, cut cuttings, plant them in the ground, cover with leaves and let them take root

the sowing the kernels from the pulp are also possible, but not recommended for the hobby garden. Stratification is required in order to break through the inhibition of germs. Nevertheless, it can take several months for the germinal platelets to appear. It takes up to 5 years for a cornel to bloom for the first time.
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Is Cornelian Cherry Poisonous?

The Cornelian cherry is the ideal wild fruit tree for the family garden, as it does not contain any questionable ingredients. On the contrary, the pea-sized stone fruits are even edible, but come with a very acidic aroma. As part of the preparation with plenty of sugar, the red fruits turn into refreshing jelly, delicious jam or invigorating liqueur.
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Cornelian cherry does not bloom

It is so devastating when the longed-for spring blossom of a cornel cherry fails to appear. We have compiled the most common causes for this shortcoming with tips for eliminating them for you here:

Cause: cut back at the wrong time. Solution: Only shorten the cornel after flowering
Cause: Frozen buds. Solution: From the end of January, wrap the branches with fleece when it freezes
Cause: lack of light. Solution: Establish the shrub in a sunny to shady location
Cause: drought stress. Solution: Keep young shrubs and tall trunks evenly moist for the first few years

If it is a specimen that has been propagated from seedlings, a long patience is required until the first flowering. After 2-3 years at the earliest - usually later - the Cornelian cherry dresses in its first floral costume.
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How do I raise the cornel to become a standard stem?

In order for the wild fruit tree to develop into a magnificent house tree, take the first steps as part of the planting process. The strongest instinct is chosen as the future trunk. All other branches are cut off. If the main shoot already has side shoots, these are cut off on astring. A support post is used to protect against windthrow, which you knock into the ground to connect it to the trunk with raffia or sisal. As the main shoot gains height, consistently remove all side shoots and water shoots while leaving the top untouched. Once the trunk has reached the desired height, cut the tip to start branching to the crown.

Nice varieties

Jolico: Popular variety with golden yellow flowers and vitamin-rich, deep red fruits from September above colorful foliage
Schönbrunner Gourmet Dirndl: The splendid variety provides the tastiest cornels with a sour-sweet aroma
Japanese Cornelian cherry: It blooms in glorious yellow on branches that are still leafless from the end of February
Macrocarpa: Present us with the largest fruits that stand out in the shape of a pear and taste less sour
Variegata: A firework of colors with yellow flowers, red cornels and green leaves with a white border
Mascula: Acts as a conspicuous pollinator with lavish flowering from the first or second year