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Eating cherries is one of summer's great delights. Who knew that something so delicious could be so good for you?
Cherries contain beta carotene, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium and fiber as well as a high concentration of antioxidants and research is showing all sorts of other bonuses to cherry consumption.
With all these benefits, you will surely want to grow cherries yourself! We have sixteen varieties from which to choose, including some suitable for low chill areas. Minnie Royal and Royal Lee pollinate each other and require only 3-400 chill hours while Lapins, Royal Rainier and Stella all need only 4-500 hours.
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Flowering cherry trees:
Amanagawa Flowering Cherry (above)
Yoshino Flowering Cherry (below)
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Standard cherry trees can get quite large (30-40 feet) and are not suitable for small areas, but now even tiny yards can accommodate a cherry tree with the new 3CR178 rootstock! This rootstock keeps cherries at eight feet without pruning.
We have four varieties available on 3CR178 this season - Lapins and Craig's Crimson (both self-fruitful) and Bing and Rainier which pollinate each other. This rootstock is very adaptable and is suitable for container growing.
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Cherries are one of the most popular fruits in the nation. Breeders are constantly working to provide more varieties for warmer areas in the country. The varieties Lapins and Royal Rainier were the first of these offerings, with chill hours of 400 to 500. The newest low-chill cherries, Royal Lee and Minnie Royal, have been made available this year. Will Florida be the next cherry capitol of the world? Stay tuned...
Akebono Flowering Cherry
Good drainage is one of the most important factors in cherry tree success. If your soil does not drain well and you have your heart set on growing cherry trees, consider constructing a raised bed. You can use lumber or railroad ties to enclose the bed; fill it with a good mix of top soil and soil amendment.
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Just before those delicious red (or in the case of Rainier, yellow with a red blush fruit) are ready to harvest, the birds descend! If your cherry tree is very large, there may be enough to share; otherwise you’ll want to net the trees. We offer bird netting in our Orchard and Garden Supplies section. Another option is constructing a permanent “net” made of chicken wire. Make sure there is an opening for easy entry. You probably will want this type of structure in an unobtrusive spot.
Kwanzan Flowering Cherry
Sour cherries are a whole other story. Before the Second World War, more than fifty varieties of sour cherries were grown, but now few are grown commercially. It seems they have been somewhat neglected in the breeding programs since “sweet” cherries are so much more popular. Sour cherry trees are usually smaller than sweet cherry trees and their branches are more twiggy. They are also more tolerant of heavy soils and fruit on younger wood. Although they are usually grown as standards, they can be left as small bushes, making the harvesting and netting much easier. Dead, diseased and congested growth should be removed in spring or early summer. When harvesting the cherries, it is best to cut them off the tree; they bear on spurs for many years, and there is a possibility the spurs will come off with the cherries.
Morello cherries freeze very well.They can be frozen without sugar and retain their flavor. (Sweet cherries freeze better if the pits are removed). Sour cherries make great pies, tarts, cakes and jams.
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