Growing Sweet Cherry: Prunus avium
Overview
A member of the Rose family, related to plums, peaches, and apricots, and cultivated for more than 2000 years. The two cherry species commonly grown for eating are Prunus avium: sweet cherry, described here, and the sour or tart cherry (Prunus cerasus), used for baking.
A member of the Rose family, related to plums, peaches, and apricots, and cultivated for more than 2000 years. The two cherry species commonly grown for eating are Prunus avium: sweet cherry, described here, and the sour or tart cherry (Prunus cerasus), used for baking.
Description
Form: Tree.
Lifespan: 15-30 productive years.
Leaf retention: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Rapid.
Mature Size: 20-30' high and 15-20' wide without dwarfing rootstock.
Flowers: White, five petals, fragrant, in clusters of 3-5.
Bloom: Late winter to early spring.
Self-fruitful: No. Another cultivar is needed to cross-pollinate. The planting distance between the two trees should be no closer than their expected mature width, and not more than 50'.
Years before fruiting: 6-7.
Fruit: Red glossy skin, round, 1/2" to 4/5" in diameter, a single seed contained within a hard wood shell, yellow flesh, edible when ripe, sweet in taste. Cherries do not ripen further once harvested, but will spoil.
Months for fruit to ripen: 2. Sweet cherries must be tasted to determine when they are ripe.
Storage after harvest: Place in sealed container without washing and refrigerate for up to a week. Do not keep at room temperature for more than one hour to avoid spoilage. Or wash and freeze on cookie sheet (the quickest method) then place in sealed container in freezer.
Leaves: Green, oval to lance-shaped, pointed, serrated margins. Leaves appear just after or during flower bloom.
Stems: No thorns.
Roots: Usually grafted onto dwarfing rootstock. Subject to root rot in wet soil.
Cultivars of Note:
Toxic / Danger: All parts poisonous except ripe fruit.
Origin: Original cultivation started in Asia Minor although varieties are also found in Northern Europe and North America.
Form: Tree.
Lifespan: 15-30 productive years.
Leaf retention: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Rapid.
Mature Size: 20-30' high and 15-20' wide without dwarfing rootstock.
Flowers: White, five petals, fragrant, in clusters of 3-5.
Bloom: Late winter to early spring.
Self-fruitful: No. Another cultivar is needed to cross-pollinate. The planting distance between the two trees should be no closer than their expected mature width, and not more than 50'.
Years before fruiting: 6-7.
Fruit: Red glossy skin, round, 1/2" to 4/5" in diameter, a single seed contained within a hard wood shell, yellow flesh, edible when ripe, sweet in taste. Cherries do not ripen further once harvested, but will spoil.
Months for fruit to ripen: 2. Sweet cherries must be tasted to determine when they are ripe.
Storage after harvest: Place in sealed container without washing and refrigerate for up to a week. Do not keep at room temperature for more than one hour to avoid spoilage. Or wash and freeze on cookie sheet (the quickest method) then place in sealed container in freezer.
Leaves: Green, oval to lance-shaped, pointed, serrated margins. Leaves appear just after or during flower bloom.
Stems: No thorns.
Roots: Usually grafted onto dwarfing rootstock. Subject to root rot in wet soil.
Cultivars of Note:
'Christobalina': a Spanish heirloom cherry, 200 chill hours,
not heat tolerant above 90°F.
'Minnie Royal' and 'Royal Lee': 400-500 chill hours.
Wildlife: Attracts bees, birds and mammals. Bird netting
often needed near harvest time.
Toxic / Danger: All parts poisonous except ripe fruit.
Origin: Original cultivation started in Asia Minor although varieties are also found in Northern Europe and North America.
Cultivation and Uses
USDA hardiness zones: Usually 4-7. Some varieties are 6-8. They may perform inconsistently from year to year in zone 9 depending on the duration of winter temperatures below 45°F.
Chill hours: Usually 500-800. The tree and surrounding ground must be in full shade between October 21 and February 21 to help the tree achieve sufficient chill hours.
Heat tolerant: No. High temperatures during fruit development may lead to abnormally shaped fruit on susceptible cultivars.
Sun: Full sun to open shade on the canopy, afternoon shade in regions where temperatures exceed 90°F.
Drought tolerant: Yes, when grafted onto the Mahaleb rootstock.
Water after becoming established: Deep water every 1-4 weeks depending on temperature. Do not allow roots to dry out completely.
Soil: Very well drained, deep, high organic content, pH 6.1-7.0 (slightly acidic side of neutral).
Fertilize: Use compost with only a limited amount of composted manure once a year early spring. Excess nitrogen promotes brown rot.
Mulch: Spread 3" deep under the canopy to reduce moisture loss and heat stress. Keep one foot away from the trunk. Place a rodent gnaw guard around the base of the trunk.
Planting: Placing on top of a mound improves water drainage. The root crown must be above soil level by 1-2". In zone 9, locate on the north side of a structure where it receives full, all-day shade on its trunk and surrounding ground between October 21 and February 21. This will help it accumulate more chill hours.
Prune: In winter, remove dead, broken and diseased limbs. Remove crossing limbs and those that do not promote a strong structure. If the trunk or branches are exposed to full sun, apply white citrus tree paint to prevent sunscald.
Propagation: Cuttings grafted onto rootstock. Can be grown from seed to produce a very large tree.
Pests: Very susceptible to various rots, cankers, and viruses.
Uses: Edible fruit.
USDA hardiness zones: Usually 4-7. Some varieties are 6-8. They may perform inconsistently from year to year in zone 9 depending on the duration of winter temperatures below 45°F.
Chill hours: Usually 500-800. The tree and surrounding ground must be in full shade between October 21 and February 21 to help the tree achieve sufficient chill hours.
Heat tolerant: No. High temperatures during fruit development may lead to abnormally shaped fruit on susceptible cultivars.
Sun: Full sun to open shade on the canopy, afternoon shade in regions where temperatures exceed 90°F.
Drought tolerant: Yes, when grafted onto the Mahaleb rootstock.
Water after becoming established: Deep water every 1-4 weeks depending on temperature. Do not allow roots to dry out completely.
Soil: Very well drained, deep, high organic content, pH 6.1-7.0 (slightly acidic side of neutral).
Fertilize: Use compost with only a limited amount of composted manure once a year early spring. Excess nitrogen promotes brown rot.
Mulch: Spread 3" deep under the canopy to reduce moisture loss and heat stress. Keep one foot away from the trunk. Place a rodent gnaw guard around the base of the trunk.
Planting: Placing on top of a mound improves water drainage. The root crown must be above soil level by 1-2". In zone 9, locate on the north side of a structure where it receives full, all-day shade on its trunk and surrounding ground between October 21 and February 21. This will help it accumulate more chill hours.
Prune: In winter, remove dead, broken and diseased limbs. Remove crossing limbs and those that do not promote a strong structure. If the trunk or branches are exposed to full sun, apply white citrus tree paint to prevent sunscald.
Propagation: Cuttings grafted onto rootstock. Can be grown from seed to produce a very large tree.
Pests: Very susceptible to various rots, cankers, and viruses.
Uses: Edible fruit.
Comments
Sweet cherry is considered one of the most difficult fruit trees to grow because of its disease susceptibility and heat intolerance.
Trees located in USDA hardiness zone 9, and below 4000' elevation in Arizona, have few or no flowers and fruit.
Do you have additional information or a different experience for this plant that you would like to share?
Email info@gardenoracle.com. All contributions are welcome and appreciated.
Sweet cherry is considered one of the most difficult fruit trees to grow because of its disease susceptibility and heat intolerance.
Trees located in USDA hardiness zone 9, and below 4000' elevation in Arizona, have few or no flowers and fruit.
Do you have additional information or a different experience for this plant that you would like to share?
Email info@gardenoracle.com. All contributions are welcome and appreciated.
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