Cherries are
small soft round
stone fruit
which are red or
black when ripe.
Cherries
originated from
the area around
the Caucasus
mountains in
Eastern Europe.
The Romans are
believed to have
discovered sweet
cherries in
about 70 BC.
They were
introduced to
Britain in the
first century
AD. Although the
fruit has been
popular for
desserts and
culinary
purpose,
cherries were
also used in the
15th and 16th
centuries for
their medicinal
properties.
Cherries in your garden
The cherry is a popular
backyard tree grown for
fruit and shade. Cherry
trees produce the first
fresh fruit of the
season, followed by the
other kinds of tree
fruit. Winter injury can
occur when winter
temperatures fall below
–10°F (-24°C). Trunk
bark splitting or sun
scald injury to tree
trunks are common if
trees have a southwest
exposure (Southwest
Injury), hardy to Zone
5. Sweet cherries
usually bloom in late
April. At this time of
year the crop may be
damaged by late spring
frost. Sour cherries are
hardier than sweet
cherries, with
Montmorency being as
hardy as apple trees.
Hardy to Zone 4.
Varieties
Sweet Cherries, Early :
Bing
:
Excellent fruit quality.
Susceptible to rain splitting.
Winter tender and spring frost
tender. Yields are not high,
with high cull rates. Not
self-fertile.
Celeste :Matures
5-7 days before Van.
Fruit is dark red,
medium firmness with
good size. Tree is
semi-compact.
Christalina :Ripens
5 days before Van. An extremely
attractive dark red cherry.
Fruit size is moderate to large.
Tolerant to rain splitting. Not
self-fertile.
Sandra Rose:Self-fertile.
Matures 3 days after Van. Large,
dark red fruit, shiny and split
resistant. Tree is productive.
Fruit is moderately firm with
good flavor. Split resistant.
Santina :
Early black cherry maturing 8
days before Van. Fruit is firm
with a bright lustre. Tree is
self fertile.
Sonnett:Ripens
2 days after Van. Fruit skin is
red and flesh is pale pink and
soft. Fruit is very large and
very sweet. The tree is a light
cropper.
Samba:Tree
is not self fertile. Fruit is
dark red and matures 2 days
after Van. Fruit is large, firm,
and moderately sweet.
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Soil and Fertilizer
Soils in the Southern Interior
are chronically low in organic
matter and nitrogen. Minor
elements such as: magnesium,
boron, and zinc may be low as
well. If good weed control is
practiced, no fertilizer should
be required for the first two or
three years. When the tree
starts to crop apply one ounce
(28 grams) of a complete
fertilizer such as 12-16-12
(which also contains minor
elements) per square yard (0.8
sq.m) in the fall. Nutrients can
be applied as foliar sprays in
early summer. Organic growers
should use approved sources of
organic nutrients. Mature cherry
trees should have 12"-14" of new
growth (30-35 cm) every year.
Choosing
& Storing
When you bring your
cherries home,
refrigerate them
immediately. Cherries
can be kept fresh in the
refrigerator for several
days. Avoid placing
cherries in the sun or
warm areas, they soften
quickly. When selecting
cherries, look for firm,
plump, shiny cherries
with green stems and
avoid cherries that are
soft or have brown
spots. Keep cherries
refrigerated until you
are ready to eat them.
Don’t wash cherries
until you are ready to
enjoy them. Rinse them
well under running water
and let them drain in a
colander
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