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ORDER OUR BARE ROOT PLANTS AND TREES ONLINE
What Are Chill Hours?
WHAT ARE LOW CHILL VARIETIES?
A Great Gift Idea
Celebrate a holiday, a birthday, an anniversary or any special occasion with a unique gift. Choose from our wide selection of fruit and
ornamental trees, vines and roses. Undecided? Call us at 800-847-6473 and order a gift certificate with your personalized message.
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ROOT STOCKS FOR CHERRIES
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 cherry rootstock from Zaiger Genetics. Very dwarf, unpruned trees grow to about 8 feet. Perfect for container growing and adaptable to many soil types.
CHERRIES
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...
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.
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.
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.
MORE CHERRY INFO
Wood of the sweet cherry is greatly prized by furniture makers; it’s also an aromatic addition to your fireplace. The trees themselves add beauty to the landscape, especially when they are flowering. The flowers consist of clusters of white blossoms, the appearance is that of a tree draped in snow. Few fruit trees add this much beauty to the garden.
- 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 chi ll in the refrigerator.
- Beat together lightly 2 large eggs, s scant ¼ cup of sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt. (Can 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.
- Then bring the jam to boiling until the jam sets, in about 15 minutes.
- Test with a thermometer; the temperature should reach 224 degrees.
- Cool for 5 minutes. Follow directions for processing jam.
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