Just before those delicious red (or in the case of Rainier, yellow with a red blush) fruits are ready to harvest, the birds descend! If your cherry tree is very large, there may be enough to share. If not, you will most likely want to net the tree. 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.

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 will 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. Sour cherries make great pies, tarts, cakes and jams.  Sweet cherries freeze better if the pits are removed.

Wood of the sweet cherry is greatly prized by furniture makers and it is also an aromatic addition to your fireplace. The trees themselves add beauty to the landscape, especially when they are flowering. The white blossoms appear in clusters and the appearance is that of a tree covered in snow. 

Childhood memories of Cherry Custard Pie

• Line a 9” pie pan with pastry crust, from the edge into a fluted standing rim, brush with lightly beaten egg white and chill in the refrigerator.
• Beat together lightly 2 large eggs, s scant ¼ cup of sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt. (Add 3 tablespoons of cherry brandy, if desired.)
• Mix with 1 ½ cups of scalded milk flavored with a few drops of vanilla.
• Beat briskly while pouring the milk to prevent curdling.
• Stir in 1 ½ cups of pitted sour cherries (marinated in a few tablespoons of cherry brandy if desired).
• Pour filling into pie shell; bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
• Reduce the heat to 350 and bake 25 to 30 minutes longer. Do not chill.

Cherry Jam

• Wash 5 lbs. of sweet cherries thoroughly, removing the pits.
• Squeeze 3 medium sized lemons, combine with cherries and simmer gently for 30 minutes.
• Warm 3 ½ lbs. of sugar, add to cherries over low heat and stir until dissolved.
• Bring the jam to boiling until it sets, about 15 minutes.
• Test with a thermometer; the temperature should reach 224 degrees.
• Cool for 5 minutes. Follow directions for processing jam.

COLT
In heavy soils, standard cherries are dwarfed to about 22 to 30ft. Lesser dwarfing effect in other soils. Relatively tolerant of wet soils, apparently resistant to bacterial canker. Trees begin bearing at a young age. Trees on Colt may be held to any desired height by summer pruning.

MAHALEB (Mah.)
The most winter hardy of the commonly used cherry rootstocks. Resists crown gall, bacterial canker, some nematodes. Not tolerant of wet soils. Standard varieties slightly dwarfed to about 85% of their height on Mazzard, or about 25-35 ft. Can be held at any height with summer pruning. Induces early, heavy bearing.

MAZZARD (Mazz.)
Standard rootstock for sweet cherries; unpruned tree height of standard varieties is 30-40 ft.; trees may be held to any height with summer pruning. Vigorous, more tolerant of wet soils than Mahaleb, but good drainage still required. Resistant to root knot nematodes and oak root fungus. Well anchored. Relatively cold hardy.

3CR178 (New Root 1)
New cherry rootstock from Zaiger Genetics. Very dwarfing; unpruned trees grow to about 8 feet. Perfect for container growing and adaptable to many soil types.