Lynn E. Long Professor, Department of Horticulture Extension Agent Oregon State University Wasco County Extension

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Growing Premium Quality Lapins

Comments from Hugh Dendy's presentations at the Oregon Horticultural Society and Wasco County Cherry Horticulture programs are summarized below.

HISTORIC QUALITY
Hugh Dendy has been raising Lapins for over 20 years without a claim. Over the years, Lapins has commanded a premium price for him due to dependably high quality fruit. Dendy stated that fruit quality problems he has observed have been due to improper growing conditions, stress factors on the tree or developing fruit, or to improper harvest timing. Proper growing conditions will result in high quality fruit with the potential for 90% 10 row and larger.

FACTORS DETRIMENTALLY AFFECTING QUALITY AND SUGGESTED REMEDIES

I.    Growing trees under any type of stress such as:

      Lack of sufficient water just prior to harvest        
       Use soil probe to determine soil moisture content and irrigation needs

      Over watering just prior to harvest
       Adequate soil oxygen is important for cherries
       Cherries can be over watered even in hot weather
                Use soil probe to determine soil moisture content and irrigation needs

      Over cropping
      Lapins are self-fertile with a corresponding tendency to overset.
      Fruit is often formed on branch buds rather than spurs causing a high incidence of blind wood in subsequent years.
             This produces a relatively high proportion of fruit to leaves.
                 Non-bearing trees should be encouraged to fruit quickly through summer pruning, promalin treatments 
                      in lieu of pruning to encourage branching, selecting weak wood over vigorous wood, reducing or eliminating
                      fertilization.
                 Bearing trees should be discouraged from over-setting by dormant pruning, pruning hard, removing weak and 
                      pendant growth and selecting upright, vigorous wood.

       Shading
      Caused by excessive vegetative growth
        Caused by high planting densities
                 Limit nitrogen applications to produce moderate, not excessive growth.


II.   Other Factors Affecting Quality

       Fruit grows in tight clusters
       inside cherries growing in shade
       inside cherries become compressed
       increased disease incidence in center of cluster
       clustered cherries are hard to pick and are easily damaged
                 Cut last years growth in half during dormant or bloom. This changes the distribution of growth regulators
                      producing more fruit on spur wood and less on branch wood. This reduces clustering. Tipping also encourages
                      branching producing a better leaf to fruit ratio.
                  Head some branches into two year old wood stimulating growth and removing
                       some fruit buds.

      Improper GA timing
      GA should be applied at pit hardening which occurs in both Lapins and Bing at about the same time.

      Improper harvest timing
         Skin color is not an indicator of ripeness. Lapins turn a deep mahogany two weeks before maturity.
         Immature fruit lacks sugar and is more susceptible to breakdown and pitting.
                   Flesh color is best indication of maturity. Flesh should be colored to the pit.

      Stem browning caused by certain chemicals including:
         Sevin
         Guthion
         calcium chloride
                   Apply chemicals in early morning when humidity is high.