Growing Cherries: Sweet and Sour Varieties for Home Gardens

Sweet cherries dominate markets with thick, rich, plum-like texture. Traditionally self-sterile, they need 2–3 trees for cross-pollination—best for orchards or large gardens. Exciting development: dwarf self-pollinating 'Stella'.

Sour cherries aren't eaten raw but excel in preserves and cooking. Smaller than sweet types, all varieties are self-fertile.

Standard trees bear in year 4, producing 30–50 quarts annually.

Planting

• Sweet cherries: ensure varieties cross-pollinate.
• Plant sweet cherries late fall/early winter outdoors, or anytime container-grown.
• For fan-trained trees, build supports before planting.
• Space fan-trained trees 15–18 ft apart.
• Sour cherries: same planting, but space bushes/fans 12–15 ft apart.

Care

• Thinning unnecessary.
• Mulch to retain moisture.
• Net trees against birds.
• Water routinely in dry areas.
• Care identical for sweet and sour types.

Pests and Diseases

• Aphids
• Japanese beetles
• Caterpillars
• Brown Rot
• Black Knot
• Bacterial Canker (remove affected branches immediately)
• Birds

Harvest and Storage

• Pick with stems when fully ripe.
• Eat or cook immediately.
• For freezing, pick firm.
• Hand-picking risks shoot injury and infection—cut stems with scissors.

Recommended Varieties

Sweet Cherries

• Early: 'Black Tartarian'
• Midseason: 'Bing'
• Late: 'Stella'

Sour Cherries

• Early: 'Early Richmond'
• Midseason: 'Montmorency'
• Late: 'Meteor'

Wit & Wisdom

A cherry year, a merry year.

The George Washington cherry tree myth was invented by a biographer to illustrate honesty. Still a great President's Day recipe inspiration!

Recipes

• Cherry Berry Pie
• Quick Cherry Crisp
• No-Lie Cherry Pie