Effects of Foliar Applied Calcium to Sour Cherries on Fruit Quality and Recovery

1994-1997 – Three foliar sprays containing 4.7 L/ha (2.0 quarts/acre) of Metalosate Ca were applied at 14 day intervals to commercial sour cherry orchards in Utah in June and July, 1994 and repeated in 1994, 1996, and 1997. In every case cherry fruit quality, of Metalosate Ca – treated fruit equaled or surpassed that of untreated fruit. The percentage of treated fruit recovered after processing generally exceeded that of the untreated fruit. The differences were even more pronounced when trees were under stress from adverse weather conditions such as those occurring in Utah during hot growing season.