Growing Cherry Trees

Introduction To Cherry Trees

Welcome to the world of cherries! Sweet cherry trees, scientifically known as Prunus avium, are a delightful addition to any garden or orchard. These beautiful trees are celebrated for their luscious, juicy fruits, ideal for snacking, baking, or creating delicious preserves. With stunning blossoms gracing the branches in spring and vibrant foliage adorning the landscape in autumn, sweet cherry trees offer not only aesthetic allure but also mouthwatering rewards. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice, cultivating sweet cherry trees promises a gratifying experience.

Meanwhile, sour cherry trees, scientifically known as Prunus cerasus, bring their unique charm to gardens and orchards. Cherished for their tart and tangy fruits, perfect for crafting pies, jams, and other delectable treats, sour cherry trees make a wonderful addition to any landscape. Displaying beautiful blossoms in spring and contributing vibrant foliage to the autumn scenery, these trees provide both visual appeal and culinary versatility. Whether you're an experienced gardener or just embarking on your gardening journey, the cultivation of sour cherry trees promises a rewarding and flavorful experience. Explore the world of cherries and savor the joys of growing these remarkable trees in your own outdoor haven.
 

Types of Cherry Trees

Sweet Cherries

Sweet cherries are grown for their fresh, eat them right off the tree fruit. They are usually divided into the red - dark red varieties and the yellow-red varieties

Sour Cherries

Sour cherries, also known as pie, acid or cooking cherries are too tart to be eaten fresh. They are normally used for culinary applications such as cherry pie, preserves and maraschino cherries. Common varieties include Morello, Montmorency and North Star

Romance Series Sour Cherries

The University of Saskatchewan has made significant contributions to cherry breeding, resulting in the development of several successful cherry varieties. Their breeding program focuses on developing cherries that are well-suited to colder climates, have excellent disease resistance, and offer superior flavor. A few notable cherry varieties bred by the University of Saskatchewan include:

Evans Cherry: The Evans cherry is a popular sour cherry variety developed by the University of Saskatchewan. It is known for its exceptional hardiness, making it suitable for colder climates. The fruits are bright red, tart, and excellent for fresh eating, baking, or preserving.
Carmine Jewel Cherry: The Carmine Jewel cherry is a hybrid variety resulting from a cross between the Mongolian cherry and the sour cherry. It is a dwarf cherry tree that reaches a height of about 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters). The Carmine Jewel produces abundant crops of dark red cherries with a sweet-tart flavor.
Romeo Cherry: The Romeo cherry is another successful cherry variety developed by the University of Saskatchewan. It is a self-fertile sour cherry tree that produces large, dark red cherries with a rich, tangy flavor. The Romeo cherry is known for its excellent disease resistance and high productivity.
Juliet Cherry: As mentioned earlier, the Juliet cherry is a popular sour cherry variety developed by the University of Saskatchewan. It is highly regarded for its exceptional flavor, disease resistance, and productivity. The cherries are medium-sized, tart, and perfect for various culinary uses.
Valentine: ‘Valentine’ is the only variety in the Romance series that has red fruit. Other romance series varieties are burgundy or black when fully ripe. This variety is more vigourous than other Romance cherries and will produce a tree a foot or 2 taller than others. Often it is 8 or 9 feet tall but with pruning could be kept shorter. Originally released in 2002. 

Cupid: Cupid is a 2004 release in the Romance Series of dwarf sour cherries from the University of Saskatchewan. Cupid Cherry produces the largest fruit of all the sour cherries which is dark/red fruit and perfect for fresh eating but it tends to be a bit later than other varieties.

Planting Location

Plant cherries in full sun, that is,  a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. A moist, well drained soil is preferred.

Cherry Tree Fertilizing

For new plantings, use a combination of bonemeal or myke in the planting hole, as well as liquid transplant fertilizer when watering. For established cherry trees, fertilize once a year in early spring with a Fruit Tree and Berry Food, or at very least an all purpose fertilizer.

Cherry Tree Pollination

In order to produce fruit, most sweet cherry trees need to be pollinated. The pollen comes from one cherry blossom and is transferred to another cherry flower by way of bees, insects, wind, rain or other method.
Most sweet cherries must receive pollen from another type of cherry tree in the area that blooms at the same time.

Sour cherries are self fruitful and do not require a pollinator in order to produce fruit.
Sour cherries bloom too late so won't serve as good pollinators. Combo variety cherries, that is, cherries with multiple types grafted onto one tree, will pollinate themselves.
 

Self Fertile Cherries

• Lapins
• Skeena
• Sweetheart
• White Gold
• Sonata
• Stella
• Symphony
• Staccato
• Sunburst
• Santina
• Black Gold
• Glacier
• Vandalay

Cherry Tree Pruning

As with most deciduous trees, start with the 3D's. Remove any dead, damaged or diseased wood in the late winter while the tree is still dormant. You can also remove any crossing, rubbing branches as well as those that are growing straight up (water spouts) and those that are growin the wrong direction. For example: those branches growing into the center of the tree instead of outwards. The ultimate goal is a tree that allows for plenty of light penetration and air circulation.

Cherry Tree Care & Maintenance

All fruit trees are susceptible to pests and disease. As a preventative measure, apply a dormant oil / lime sulphur spray in late winter, before new growth begins. Do not apply if the tree already has new green growth.
 

Common Cherry Tree Varieties

Bing Cherry: Bing cherries are one of the most well-known sweet cherry varieties. They have a deep red to almost black skin and a rich, sweet flavor. Bing cherries are large, firm, and juicy, making them perfect for fresh eating
Stella Cherry: Stella cherries are self-fertile, making them a popular choice for home gardeners. They have a dark red to almost black skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. Stella cherries are known for their excellent flavor and are great for eating fresh or using in desserts.
Lapins: Lapins cherries are a late-season variety with a dark red to black skin. They have a sweet and rich flavor, similar to Bing cherries. Lapins cherries are large and firm, making them ideal for fresh eating or baking.
Sweetheart: Sweetheart cherries are known for their heart-shaped appearance and sweet flavor. They have a dark red to almost black skin and a juicy, firm flesh. Sweetheart cherries are great for snacking or adding to desserts.
Van: Van cherries are a versatile variety that can be used for both fresh eating and cooking. They have a bright red skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. Van cherries are often used in pies, jams, and other culinary creations.
Rainier: Rainier cherries are highly sought after for their unique appearance and exceptional flavor. They have a yellow to golden skin with a bright red blush and a sweet, delicate taste. Rainier cherries are often considered a premium sweet cherry variety.
Royal Ann: Royal Ann Cherry: Royal Ann cherries, also known as Napoleon cherries, are primarily used for canning and preserving. They have a yellow to light red skin and a sweet, slightly tart flavor. Royal Ann cherries are also popular for making maraschino cherries.

Sonata Cherry: Sonata cherries have a dark red to black skin and a sweet, juicy flesh. They are prized for their excellent flavor and are often enjoyed fresh or used in culinary creations.