Sweet and sour Cherry (Berries, minor fruits and fruit trees)

Decorative tree for zone 2, easy to maintain.

Or prunus maackii, cherry tree. This tree grows freely in the extreme north-east of China, where winters are milder but the climate is quite humid. Planted in parks and gardens for the undeniable golden hue of its aged trunk. Easy to cultivate, it supports the rigorous winters to -25°. In general it is preferred to be planted in isolation. Sometimes it measures up to 10 meters. Plant it in poor light to appreciate the blooms and to see in winter the sun which has fun to shade the trunk, magic! It can live up to 300 years.

Height : 7m

Width: 5m

Flowering: May-June

Color of flowers: white

Hardiness zones: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Soil type: rich, fresh and well drained soil

Uses: bed, isolated, alignment

Medium-bright, sweet black fruit in mid-July. White bloom. Likes rich, well-drained soil.

Hardiness zone: 5a-9b

Pollination: Requires a second cherry tree for cross-pollination. 

Planting distance between cherry trees: 12-15 ft.

Exposure: Full sun

Medium sized tree which (on good sites) develops a long, straight, clear bole and can reach heights approaching 100 feet (30 m). This cherry is native to eastern North America. A mature black cherry can easily be identified in a forest by its very broken, dark grey to black bark, which has the appearance of very thick, burnt cornflakes. However, for about the first decade or so of its life, the bark is thin, smooth, and striped, resembling that of a birch. Black cherry is closely related to the chokecherry (Prunus virginiana); chokecherry, however, is classified as a shrub or small tree and has smaller, less glossy leaves.

It is a moderately long-lived tree, with ages of up to 250 years known, though it is prone to storm damage, with branches breaking easily; any decay resulting, however, only progresses slowly. P. serotina was widely introduced into Western and Central Europe as an ornamental tree in the mid 20th century, where it has become locally naturalized. It has acted as an invasive specie there, negatively affecting forest community biodiversity and regeneration.

The fruit of Prunus serotina is suitable for making jam and cherry pies, and has some use in flavoring liquors; they are also a popular flavoring for sodas and ice creams. The black cherry is commonly used instead of sweet cherries (Prunus avium) to achieve a sharper taste. It is also used in cakes which include dark chocolate, such as a Black Forest cake and as garnish for cocktails.

The wood of P. serotina is also used for cooking and smoking foods, where it imparts a unique flavor.

P. serotina timber is valuable; perhaps the premier cabinetry timber of the U.S-Canada., traded as "cherry". It is known for its strong red color and high price. Its density when dried is around 580 kg/m3 (980 lb/cu yd). P. serotina trees are sometimes planted ornamentally.

Zone 2

This deciduous shrub with downy branches produces an abundant white spring bloom tinged with pink, followed by small bright red, ornamental, semi-sweet cherries. Both greedy for preserves or fresh and decorative, this small, fast-growing cherry tree requires little water and is very resistant to cold. It can therefore be grown in almost all our regions. Give it a sunny or semi-shaded exposure and a well-drained soil.

Attracts birds

Exposure Sun and half-shade

Flowering pink buds, white flowers

Height : 4m

Width : 3m

Large, early-ripening fruit! Highly productive tree bears dark red, almost black, fruit with excellent flavor. Enjoy fresh or extend the cherry season by canning and freezing your harvest. Crack resistant. Blooms late to avoid late spring frost. Ripens in June.

Best pollinator: any other sweet cherry variety. (Van, Bing, Rainier, Lapin, Angela, Blackgold, Stella, Kristin, Mazzard)

Planting distance between cherry trees: 12-15 feet.

Another variety of sweet cherry (prunus avium) is needed for pollination. Excellent fresh, canned or cooked. Does not like dry and cold prevailing winds in winter. Height 4 m by 4 m wide. For zones below 5: grow in pots and lay on the ground late in autumn so that the snow covers the plants and protects them.

Compatible variety for cross pollination: Van cherry, Stella cherry, Rabbit cherry, Mazzard cherry.

Hardiness zone: 5

Height 4 m by 4 m wide. Should be planted in areas most protected from wind. Sweet cherry, yellow fruit with red cheek, tasty, firm and sweet flesh. Early harvest. Fruiting takes 3 to 5 years. All dead branches must be pruned to prevent diseases.

For cultivation below zone 5: Grow in pots and lay down in winter, cover with snow. 

Hardiness zone: 5

Compatible variety for cross pollination: Van cherry, Bing cherry.

Planting distance between trees: 12 feet

Exposure: Sun, partial shade.

The medium-sized fruits are very firm, juicy and sweet. Fruiting takes 3 to 5 years. All dead branches must be pruned to prevent diseases. Does not like dry and cold prevailing winds in winter. Height 4 m by 4 m wide.

For cultivation below zone 5: Grow in pots and lay on the ground late in the fall so that the snow covers the plant and protects it.

Compatible varieties for pollination: Bing Cherry, Stella Cherry, Rabbit Cherry, Mazzard Cherry.

Planting distance between trees: 12 feet

Exposure : Sun, half-shade.

Cultivar of Maskinongé, Qc..a sweet natural cultivar in Mauricie that occured in the seventies. Sweeter and less astringent fruits. Excellent for processing

Zone 2
Attracts birds
 

Abundant production of dark, firm cherries, they are very sweet and the plants are very hardy, withstanding cold temperatures of up to -40°C. The gardener in zone 2b can therefore have the pleasure of growing them.

Small tree with white flowers giving sweet cherries. They have firm and juicy flesh. The harvest takes place in August and the fruits are used for fresh consumption, conservation, jellies, pies, or jams. Zone 3 needs full sun. Self-fruitful.

Multi-grafted cherry tree 4 in 1

Varieties (random): Bing, Black tartarian, Van, Montmorency, Rainier, Lapin, Royal ann, Sam or Glacier

Hardiness zone : 5b

Self-fertile

For zone 5-6

A popular Cornell University introduction known for its consistent heavy yield of large, dark, well flavoured fruit. Black Gold has good crack resistance and blooms very late making it extremely frost resistant. This exceptional sweet cherry is self fertile and also a good pollenizer, but not for early blooming varieties.

SELF-FERTILE | ZONE 4 | HARVEST: LATE JULY-EARLY AUG.

Sweet dark red fruits. Harvest in August. Prune during the dormant season (end of March, beginning of April).

Compatible variety for pollination: Van cherry, Bing cherry, Rainier cherry.

Planting distance between trees: 12 feet

Height : 4m

Width: 3m

Hardiness zone : 5

Exposure : Sun.

Ideal for growing in a pot at the bottom of zone 5b.

White Gold sweet cherry is self-fertile and rare to find. Its parents were the variety Emperor Francis and Stella. It shows cold hardiness in both mid-winter and spring. It is very tolerant to cherry blight and resistant to bacterial canker. 

It will produce medium to large cherries that are likely to be sweet, crunchy and sugary. Because it is a seedling, it is uncertain what type of cherries you will get. If you want to produce sweet cherries in a cold zone of Canada, you must select this one because true cultivars do not do well in zone 4b. They have difficulty withstanding temperatures below -30°C and cold winds in winter.

Height: 6m

Width : 4m

Hardiness zone : 4

Sunshine : Full sun

Soil type : Normal, well drained soil

Pollination : Self-fertile, good pollinator

Large, firm and sweet dark red fruits. Harvest at the end of July. Prune during the dormant period (end of March, beginning of April).

Compatible variety for cross pollination: Van cherry, Bing cherry, Rabbit cherry, Mazzard cherry.

Planting distance between trees: 12 feet

Hardiness zone: 5

Height : 4m

Width: 3m

Exposure : Sun

Large, sweet, red fruits. Early flowering with white flowers. Harvest in July. Likes well-drained soil.

Pollination: Needs pollinators, choose another variety of sweet cherry.

Planting distance between cherry trees: 12-15 ft.

Hardiness zone: 4-8

Exposure: Full sun

The Vandalay cherry variety ripens in the middle of July, about the same time as the popular ‘Bing’ variety. Although the Vandalay cherry tree is said to be self-fruitful, you may get more fruit with a pollinator. You can use Bing, Stella, Van.

Incredibly productive varieties that produces large quantities of deep red cherries that are firm and have an excellent flavour. The fruit is also quite resistant to cracking, although some thinning is required if you want the cherries to size up nicely.

History: Vandalay was created by Dr. Ghassem Tehrani as a cross between Van and Stella sweet cherries at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and released in 1969.

Hardiness Zone: 5

Sun/Shade Requirements: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)

Soil Preference: Sandy loam and loam, like plenty of organic material. Prefers average to moist conditions with well-drained soils, avoid planting anywhere that floods for more than two weeks in the spring.

Big red-black fruits, very sweet. Late harvest. Prune during the dormant period (end of March, beginning of April).

Self-fertilizing

Hardiness zone: 2a

Zone 3a

A more compact cultivar than other dwarf cherry trees and of average production. Beautiful clusters of fragrant white flowers, followed by beautiful bright red fruits that have a high sugar content. Leaves turn yellow in the fall. Developed by the University of Saskatchewan after 50 years of breeding work. Produces fruit weighing about 6.5 grams with a brix level of about 19. Excellent fruit for processing and eating fresh. The fruit can be kept for a week in the refrigerator but we recommend processing as soon as possible into jams, pies, jellies, etc. Morello cherries make a much better jam than the sweet cherries of France. This jam is sublime on toast and can be added to any dessert.

Spacing: Keep 3.7-4.6 m (12-15') between plants.

Depth: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. Plant at the same depth as the cherry tree was in the pot.

Requirements: Full sun. Regular watering is essential, especially for young plants in dry periods. Moist, rich, well-drained soil, pH 4.5 - 7.5. 

Pests: Aphids, caterpillars, brown rot, bacterial canker.

Care: prune regularly every 2 years to avoid that the plant produces only on the last high stem. Sometimes it is necessary to think about cutting back a little bit by choosing the good stems.

Harvest: Mid-August

Zone 3

Hardy cherry tree producing beautiful dark red fruits ready to be harvested around mid-July. Self-fruitful, it begins to bear fruit on average three years after planting and prefers to be sheltered from strong winds. Good disease resistance.

Spacing: Keep 3.7-4.6 m (12-15') between plants.

Depth: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. Plant at the same depth as the cherry tree was in the pot.

Requirements: Full sun. Regular watering is essential, especially for young plants in dry periods. Moist, rich, well-drained soil, pH 4.5 - 7.5. 

Pests: Aphids, caterpillars.

Care: prune regularly every 2 years to avoid that the plant produces only on the last high stem. Sometimes it is necessary to think about cutting back a little bit by choosing the good stems.

Harvest: Mid-August

Zone 3a

Mid season variety. Dark red 7 gram fruit are the largest in the series, and the sweetest of all three. Fresh eating type. More compact plant than the others. Beautiful, bright red cherries, ideal for home made cherry pie. These exciting new bush cherries, developed by the University of Saskatchewan after 50 years of breeding work, are perfect for the home gardener. They are very hardy (zone 3), disease resistant and their bush shape is very suitable for the garden. They are heavy yeilding, producing up to 10-15 kg per plant. With proper care they should begin to bear fruit in 3 years, with full maturity (7-8 feet) in 5-6 years. These are tart cherries, ideal for cooking, but are also sweet enough for fresh eating. Self-pollinating, but better results are obtained when two varieties are planted. 

Zone 2a.

Self-pollinating.

Dwarf cherry tree bearing large, dark red, sweet fruit that can be harvested in mid-August and are perfect for picking and eating fresh! Very hardy. Prune during dormant season (late March, early April).

Spacing: Keep 3.7-4.6 m (12-15') between plants.

Depth: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. Plant at the same depth as the cherry tree was in the pot.

Requirements: Full sun. Regular watering is essential, especially for young plants in dry periods. Moist, rich, well-drained soil, pH 4.5 - 7.5. 

Pests: Aphids, caterpillars.

Care: prune regularly every 2 years to avoid that the plant produces only on the last high stem. Sometimes it is necessary to think of cutting back a little bit by choosing the good stems.

Zone 3

The Morello cherry is a dwarf variety ideal for small gardens, or even for growing in a large container on a balcony or terrace. Easy to grow, this hardy, self-fertilizing fruit tree requires little maintenance.

The fruit is bright red to black. Very juicy, these Morello cherries have a sweet-tart flavor. Very prolific, this variety can produce up to 50 kg of cherries per season. Flowering in April/May and harvest in August.

Prune only if necessary during the dormant season. Prune off diseased or dead branches. 

Disease: Fairly resistant to moniliosis, a fungal disease that causes flower clusters to dry out. Susceptible to bacterial canker, which develops on twigs.

As for pests, this fruit tree may be subject to aphid or mealybug attacks during the summer.

Watering :

The first few years after planting are crucial to ensure that cherry trees establish well. Regular watering is essential, especially in the first year, and especially during the summer months. Once fully grown, water your Morello cherry tree only in case of drought.

Note that tub trees need to be watered regularly throughout their life.

Tip: if the leaves curl up, the tree is thirsty.

Self-pollinating.

Cherry tree selected for the quality of its sweet, red-black fruits. The abundant harvest is done at the end of August. Once mature, a plant can yield up to 30 pounds of cherries, ideal for canning, cooking, juicing, or eating fresh. The beauty of the foliage and flowers also make the Romeo cherry an interesting ornamental plant. Very hardy. Prune during the dormant season (late March, early April).

Hardiness zone: 2a

Height : 3m

Width: 2.5 m

Exposure : Sun

Early fruits, red of medium size. Ideal for processing.

Spacing: Keep 3.7-4.6 m (12-15') between plants.

Hardiness zone: 2a

Depth: Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole. Plant at the same depth as the cherry tree was in the pot.

Requirements: Full sun. Regular watering is essential, especially for young plants in dry periods. Moist, rich, well-drained soil, pH 4.5 - 7.5. 

Pests: Aphids, caterpillars.

Care: prune regularly every 2 years to avoid that the plant produces only on the last high stem. Sometimes it is necessary to think of cutting back a little bit by choosing the good stems.