Growing cherries at home is an incredibly rewarding experience that brings both beauty and delicious fruit to your garden.

Imagine walking outside, plucking fresh cherries from your tree, and enjoying their sweet or tart flavor. Whether you're looking to cultivate sweet cherries or sour cherries, we can guide you step-by-step through the process, ensuring you get the best harvest possible.

Cherries are more than just a treat – they represent patience, care, and the joy of growing your own food.

Choosing the Right Cherry Trees

The first decision we must make when growing cherries is choosing the right type of tree. There are two main types of cherry trees: sweet cherries and sour cherries.

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium) are larger, plumper, and usually eaten fresh. They thrive in zones 5 to 7 and require at least two or three trees for proper pollination, as they are self-sterile. If you're short on space, a dwarf variety like 'Stella' might be a great choice. On the other hand, sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) are often used in cooking or preserving due to their tart flavor. These trees are self-fertile and grow well in zones 4 to 6.

Planting Cherry Trees

To get the best results, we should plant cherry trees in early spring or late fall, when the soil is soft and moist. Selecting the right location is critical – cherry trees need full sunlight and good air circulation. We should avoid planting near taller trees or structures that could cast shade over the trees.

When planting, make sure the soil is deep, well-drained, and slightly acidic. The ideal pH range for cherries is 6.0 to 7.0. For sweet cherries, space the trees about 35 to 40 feet apart, while dwarf varieties should be spaced 5 to 10 feet apart. Tart cherries need 20 to 25 feet of space, while dwarfs should be 8 to 10 feet apart.

Proper Planting Technique

For bare-root trees, place the rootstock on a small mound at the center of the hole, spread the roots out carefully, and backfill with soil. For container-grown trees, gently remove the rootball and cut any pot-bound roots before planting. Always make sure that the graft union of the tree is planted at the correct depth – for standard trees, it should be just below the soil level, while dwarf trees should have the graft union a few inches above the soil. This ensures that the tree grows properly and gets the necessary nutrients.

How to Care for Cherry Trees

Once our cherry trees are planted, we need to focus on care and maintenance. Cherry trees are relatively easy to care for but do require some attention. Mulching around the base of the tree will help retain moisture, but be sure to leave a few inches of bare soil around the trunk to prevent rot. Regular watering is important, especially in dry conditions, but be cautious not to overwater.

Pruning is also essential to ensure healthy growth and fruiting. We should prune cherry trees annually, preferably in late winter, to encourage the development of new fruiting wood. Avoid pruning during the fall, as it can damage the tree’s health. Fertilizing is crucial too – a low-nitrogen fertilizer applied in early spring, just before the trees bloom, will help them grow strong and healthy.

Protecting Your Fruit

One of the biggest challenges when growing cherries is protecting the fruit from birds. Birds love cherries just as much as we do, so it's essential to cover the trees with wildlife-safe netting after they bloom and begin to fruit. This will keep our cherries safe and ensure we have a bountiful harvest.

Harvesting Cherries

Cherry trees typically start bearing fruit in their fourth year, although dwarf varieties will yield fruit a year earlier. A mature tree can produce anywhere from 30 to 50 quarts of cherries annually, while dwarf trees will yield around 10 to 15 quarts. The cherries are usually ready for harvest in mid-summer. Sweet cherries will turn a rich, deep color when ripe, and sour cherries will be firm and slightly tart.

It’s important to pick cherries carefully to avoid damaging the tree. Use a gentle twisting motion to remove them from the branch, and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Conclusion

Growing cherries at home is not only a fun and fulfilling project, but it also gives us the chance to enjoy the freshest, most flavorful cherries right from our own garden. By choosing the right trees, planting them properly, caring for them, and protecting them from birds, we can have a cherry harvest that will make all our efforts worthwhile.

So, whether we’re making homemade jams, pies, or simply snacking on fresh cherries, our trees will provide us with years of delicious fruit. Happy gardening, Lykkers! Let’s get growing!