Cherries come in a variety of colors, textures and flavors. Sweet cherries require a good deal of care to grow in most areas where the summer climate is relatively humid. They need careful attention in terms of regular spraying.
There are two basic types of cherries:
Sweet Cherries – The ones you eat fresh from your tree. Home gardeners prefer sweet cherries that they can eat fresh.
Sour Cherries – Commonly used in baking . Most sour cherry trees are grown in orchards by farmers.
Cherry trees are grafted to roots called ‘root stocks’ that determine the eventual height and anchoring capabilities of the tree. Root stocks reduce the size of tree by a percentage of the standard size.
For cherries a standard tree matures at 25’.
Growing Conditions
Sun – Full sun and ample air circulation are the keys to success with cherries.
Soil – Cherry trees need rich, well-drained soil. Mix compost into the soil before planting to ensure an active well established root system, and place the tree in a location with plenty of space. Cherries are sensitive to drought, so regular, deep watering in summer is essential. We recommend an hour of slow watering once a week.
Planting
Transplant young cherry tree saplings into your yard or garden in the spring or summer.
Dig a hole about three times as big and deeper than the root ball. Mix in plenty of rich compost into the hole, along with fresh,rich soil.
If it is in a peat container, cut slits in the container to speed up its decomposition, and to help the roots to emerge easier.
Plant the cherry tree to a depth equal to where it is in the container. Do not plant it deeper.
Fill in around the roots with a mixture of compost and soil. Tamp down the soil around the tree.
If planted in a windy area, stake the tree so it will grow straight.
Water well and deeply. Repeat deep watering frequently, to help new roots to grow and spread.
Once your cherry tree is established, it should grow well with little attention.
Each spring, before buds open, apply a dormant oil fruit tree spray. This will kill a variety of insects. Apply a fruit tree spray frequently during the season, if you have problems with insects or disease. We strongly recommend you avoid spraying near harvest time. In all cases, follow the directions on the label for application and use.
Cherry Pollination
Some varieties are self-fertile, so they can be planted alone, and still bear fruit. They will bear larger crops if a cherry of a different type is planted near by. Some varieties need to be pollinated, so 2 trees must be planted, and many varieties are picky about which trees will work for pollination.
Pie cherries are self fertile but usually will not pollinate sweet cherries
Harvesting
One mature, standard-size tart or sweet cherry tree will produce 30 to 50 quarts of cherries a year; a dwarf tree, about 10 to 15 quarts. Wait until the cherries turn fully red to harvest them; the sugar content rises dramatically in the last few days of ripening. You’ll need to go over the tree every other day for about a week. Pick the fruit with stems attached, but be careful not to tear off the woody fruit spur, which will continue to produce fruit year after year. If you’re using a mechanical cherry pitter, pick the cherries by leaving the stems on the trees. Use these cherries up soon after you pick them because they’ll leak juice and may spoil if left out.
General Pruning Care
Cherries are one of the most attractive of all fruit trees. They will naturally form a well balanced shape similar to the popular flowering cherries such as Kwanzan and Yoshino, with just a little coaxing. And when they bloom, fruiting cherries have a beautiful, white show of flowers in the early spring.
First year pruning sets the eventual shape of the tree. If your tree is taller than 4-5′ above ground, after its planted, trim it down to that height. Pick out the dominant branch that is the most vertical at the top of the tree. This will be your central leader. Thin out the inward growing branches and any branches which are crossing over each other. Trim off the tips of the larger branches to encourage growth. See the illustration below for a before and after look at the branches.
In later years, you should continue “shape” your tree. Cherry trees are best trained to a central leader (uppermost upright limb). This is the natural way your pear tree will want to grow. Pruning will keep your tree vigorous, encourage the establishment of fruit buds and enable you to keep your tree down to a manageable size.
It is generally best to prune cherry trees when the weather is hot. Do not prune in the winter or late fall or early spring. Bacterial diseases are present in all non-arid environments and are particularly detrimental to sweet cherries. These bacteria are most active in cool, wet weather. So wait until the tree has leafed out and the warm late spring weather patterns are well established usually by the end of May – to prune your cherry trees.