LAPINS CHERRY TREES
Lapins is a sweet cherry variety, originating from British Columbia, Canada. It is currently one of the most successful cherries in South Africa. It is inherently precocious, productive and slightly dwarfed, making it a suitable choice for home gardens and orchards.
Cherry growing in South Africa is restricted to areas with sufficient “winter chilling”, which is measured by the number of hours, during May, June and July, of temperatures between 0 and +7 degrees Celsius. Each hour within this range constitutes 1 chilling unit. Lapins has a medium chilling requirement of about 500 chilling units. In South Africa this kind of climate is experienced on the highveld and the high-lying zones in the Western Cape.
THESE TREES ARE NOT SUITED TO COASTAL OR SUBTROPICAL CLIMATES.
Tree characterics
Variety:
Lapins
Chilling:
Medium, requires long, cold winters.
Tree size:
Semi dwarfed, 3,5m high, 2m wide.
Pollination:
Self-fertile, does not require another variety for cross pollination.
Flowering:
White blossoms, mid September.
Fruit:
Good production, mahogany red colour, sweet fruit.
Bearing:
3-4 years.
planting
Site selection:
At least 6 hours of sun a day. In the urban areas, avoid a west facing wall, the late afternoon sun can be very harsh. East facing wall is good as they get their 6 hours of sun in the morning and then cooler afternoon shade and additional winter chilling.
Soil type:
Well draining soil – pH 6.00 – 6.5.
Nutrients:
Add bone meal or superphosphate and potassium, and compost.
Planting:
When removing from bag, try not to disturb the rootball. Place in prepared hole, leaving 10-15cm of the rootstock above the soil. Plant trees at least 2m apart.
Containers:
At least a 50L container, use good potting soil and compost, again leaving 10-15cm rootstock above soil.
Watering:
Newly planted trees moderate watering weekly. In spring and summer, water according to rainfall patterns, as you would the rest of your garden.
Cherry tree stockist:
Gauteng:
Schaffler’s Nursery, 28 Johannesburg Rd, Lyndhurst, 011 786 0323
Monkey Fountain, 6 Bram Fischer Dr, Pine Park, Randburg, 011 782 4430/ 011 782 4130
The Garden Shop Parktown, 167 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North, Johannesburg, 011 447 2368
Plantland, The Wilds, cnr Atterbury Rd & Olympus Drive, Pretoria, 012 991 3061
Colourful Splendour, Marlborough Ave, Randburg, 011 447 5817
Lifestyle Garden Centre, Ysterhout Dr &, Beyers Naudé Dr, Randpark Ridge, 011 792 5616
Stodels Bryanston, 278 Main Rd, Bryanston, 011 463 5773
Ryans Nurseries, 18 Hawley Road, Bedfordview, 011 455 1632
Freestate:
Greenside Nursery, Tafelberg Ave, Spitskop Small Holdings, Bloemfontein, 051 451 3001