Cherry Trees: A Guide to Types and Varieties
Introduction
Spring is the time for cherries, and there are many different types of cherry trees to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a sweet cherry to eat fresh or a sour cherry for baking, there’s a cherry tree perfect for you.
Types of Cherry Trees
There are two main types of cherry trees: sweet cherries and sour cherries. Sweet cherries are eaten fresh, while sour cherries are used for cooking. Both types of cherry trees ripen in the late spring.
- Sweet cherries need a pollinizer, which is another cherry tree that blooms at the same time.
- Sour cherries are self-fertile, meaning they don’t need another cherry tree to produce fruit.
Common Cherry Tree Varieties
There are many different varieties of cherry trees, each with its own unique flavor, size, and ripening time.
Sweet Cherry Varieties
- Bing: A large, dark cherry that is one of the most popular commercially sold cherries.
- Chelan: An upright, vigorous tree with fruit that matures two weeks ahead of Bing cherries and is resistant to cracking.
- Coral: A large, firm cherry with excellent flavor and low susceptibility to cracking.
- Critalin: An early-bearing cherry that is an excellent pollinizer and bears dark, red, juicy fruit.
- Early Robin: A cherry that matures a week earlier than Rainier. It is mild in flavor with a semi-free stone and a heart shape.
- Glenare: A cherry with very large, sweet, clingstone-type fruit of dark red.
- Rainier: A mid-season cherry that is yellow with a red blush.
- Tulare: A cherry that is similar to Bing and stores well for a long time.
- Utah Gold: A cherry with larger, firmer fruit than Bing and is partially freestone.
- Van: A cherry with reddish-black, sweet cherries and is an excellent pollinator.
Sour Cherry Varieties
- English Morello: A sour cherry prized by pie makers and for commercial juices.
- Montmorency: The most popular variety of sour cherry, making up 96% of the total production for commercial pie fillings and toppings.
Self-Fertile Cherry Tree Varieties
If you only have room for one cherry tree, you may want to choose a self-fertile variety.
- Benton: A self-fertile cherry tree that ripens mid-season and has been reputed to surpass Bing cherries.
- Blackgold: A late mid-season, sweet cherry with a tolerance of spring frost.
- Lapins: A cherry that is somewhat crack resistant.
- Santina: An early black cherry with a sweeter flavor than other black cherries.
- Skeena: A cherry with dark mahogany fruit.
- Sonata: A mid-season, self-fertile cherry with large, black fruit.
- Sunburst: A very productive cherry with large, firm fruit.
- Sweetheart: A cherry that matures late with large fruit.
- Symphony: A cherry that matures late in the season with large, vibrantly red cherries that are resistant to rain crack.
- Tehranivee: A mid-season, self-fertile cherry.
- Vandalay: A self-fertile cherry with large, wine-colored fruit.
- Whitegold: An early mid-season, sweet cherry.
Choosing the Right Cherry Tree
When choosing a cherry tree, it is important to consider the following factors:
- Climate: Cherry trees grow best in cool climates with well-drained soil.
- Space: Cherry trees can grow to be quite large, so be sure to choose a variety that is appropriate for the size of your yard.
- Purpose: If you want to eat fresh cherries, choose a sweet cherry variety. If you want to bake with cherries, choose a sour cherry variety.
Planting and Care
Cherry trees are relatively easy to grow. They prefer well-drained soil and full sun. Water your cherry tree regularly, especially during the hot summer months. Fertilize your cherry tree every spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Harvesting
Cherries are ripe when they are fully colored and slightly soft to the touch. To harvest cherries, gently twist them from the stem. Cherries can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Pests and Diseases
Cherry trees are susceptible to a number of pests and diseases, including aphids, cherry fruit flies, and brown rot. To prevent and treat these problems, follow these tips:
- Inspect your cherry tree regularly for signs of pests or diseases.
- Remove any infected leaves or fruit.
- Use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control pests.
- Apply a fungicide to prevent and treat brown rot.
With proper care, your cherry tree will provide you with many years of delicious fruit.
