Cherries

ripe cherries hanging from a tree
ripe cherries hanging from a tree

Introduction

Whether for the deliciously sweet taste of cherries picked straight from the tree, or the rich indulgent flavour of cherry pie, cherries are associated with the height of summer.

There is also a good reason to make the effort to grow them, as cherries can be hard to find in the shops and are expensive to buy.

Planting

  • Planting depth: cover root ball
  • Planting spacing: dependent on root stock

Harvesting

  • Best enjoyed fresh
  • Alternatively, cook and freeze
Sow
(inside)
Sow
(outside)
Harvest
(fresh)
Harvest
(stored)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
= jar, = freeze, = store

Varieties

Cherries can be divided into two main types:

  • Eating cherries (sweet)
  • Cooking cherries (acid)

Traditional cultivars of acid cherry trees were generally smaller, more self fertile, and more hardy than sweet cherry trees, although modern cultivars of sweet cherry trees have addressed this.

Sweeter types (sometimes referred to as ‘mazzard cherries’) tend to be larger trees and may need a pollinator – although there are many exceptions. Advances in cultivation have helped create varieties which offer more choice to the gardener – ie dwarf sweet cherry trees that are self pollinating. White fleshed cherry varieties are often particularly sweet.

Pollination requirements are worth checking with a shop before purchase. Some varieties are self fertile, others are sterile and need a cherry tree of another variety to pollinate them, and some cherry trees will pollinate all other cherry tree types.

If living in a residential area, there is a good chance a cherry tree will have a pollinator close enough to home – bees travel a long way to visit trees in blossom. In more remote areas, it may be worth considering purchasing two cherry trees that can pollinate each other.

Other differences in varieties include flowering and harvest time. In colder areas, buying a later flowering variety to avoid frosts may bring more success. If planning for a succession of cherries throughout the summer, it is possible to choose varieties that fruit at different times.

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Growing

Cherry tree varieties can grow large, but they do come in a variety of root stocks that determine their size. I have found smaller root stocks work best, as combined with pruning to control the size of the tree, this allows for the option of covering a tree with a net during the fruiting season. In my area, it is possible to lose a whole crop to birds, sometimes with very little warning – just as the cherries are beginning to ripen.

In times past, one of the major constraints of growing cherry trees at home – or on the allotment – was their large size. A guide to cherry root stocks:

  • Tabel – 1.8m
  • Gisela 5 – 3m
  • Damil – 4.5m
  • Colt – 4.8m
  • Malling F12 – 6m

The larger root stocks can be more commonly available, so beware, these grow into big trees unless pruned regularly. Cherry orchards sometimes plant trees between 6m – 15m apart, indicating how much room they need to grow.

Cherry trees are hungry and thirsty (but do not like to stand in wet soil). A good mulch in the spring will help feed a cherry tree and retain moisture in the soil.

From the time of blossom to the cherry harvest it is important that the soil is kept moist. A young tree may need watering weekly or fortnightly depending on how hot the weather is. A thorough soaking soaking with days between is better than a little water daily, as this encourages the roots to grow deeper in the search for moisture.

In my experience, the two biggest problems experienced by cherry trees are aphids and birds. Aphids are best tackled as soon as you see them on the tree. They can be rubbed off by hand, or washed off by hose.

Aphids are often cultivated by ants that climb the trunk of the tree. The best way of stopping this is by using grease bands or tree grease which stop the ants climbing.

Cherries are loved by birds. Buying a smaller cultivar, combined with pruning regularly, will help keep a tree at a size that it is possible to throw a net over during the fruiting season.

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