Cherries grow on trees that bloom in spring and produce fruit in early summer, typically 3 to 5 years after planting.
Growth cycle
- Cherry trees need winter chill (800 to 1,200 hours below 45°F).
- They flower in spring.
- Sweet cherries ripen in late spring to early summer, about 60 to 90 days after bloom.
Time to fruit
3 to 5 years after planting for sweet cherries, 3 to 4 for tart.
Growing needs
Full sun, well drained soil and cross pollination for most sweet varieties.
Top producers
The US, Turkey and Chile.
Harvest
June to July in the Northern Hemisphere.
Tree biology
Cherry trees (Prunus avium for sweet and Prunus cerasus for sour) are deciduous trees that bloom in spring with white or pink flowers. Pollination by bees is needed for fruit. Many sweet cherry varieties need a pollinator variety nearby, while sour cherries and some sweet types such as Stella and Lapins are self fertile.
Chill hours
Cherries need 700 to 1,200 hours below 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) in winter to break dormancy and flower properly, depending on variety.
Time to first fruit
Trees grown from seed take 4 to 7 years to produce. Grafted nursery trees usually produce in 3 to 5 years. Dwarf trees fruit sooner.
Size
Standard sweet cherry trees reach 30 to 35 feet tall, while dwarf rootstocks stay 8 to 15 feet.
Hardiness
Sweet cherries grow in USDA zones 5 to 8. Sour cherries tolerate zones 4 to 7.
Soil and sun
Full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours and well drained, slightly acidic to neutral soil, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Avoid soggy soil and frost pockets, as spring frost can kill blossoms.
Pests and diseases
Birds, spotted wing drosophila, cherry fruit fly, brown rot, bacterial canker and cracking from rain before harvest.
Production
Turkey, the United States, Chile and Uzbekistan are among the top producers. Washington State is the top US producer of sweet cherries, followed by California and Oregon.
Harvest
Fruit ripens in late spring to mid summer, about 45 to 60 days after bloom. Cherries do not ripen further after being picked, so wait until fully colored.
Nutrition
A cup of sweet cherries has about 97 calories, 3 grams of fiber and 18 milligrams of vitamin C.
Tree traits and climate
Sweet cherries (Prunus avium) and tart cherries (Prunus cerasus) are stone fruit trees. Sweet cherry trees on standard rootstock can reach 25 to 35 feet, and dwarf trees stay 8 to 12 feet. They need winter chill, often 700 to 1,200 hours below 45 F, and do best in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 7 for sweet and 4 to 7 for tart. Trees need full sun and well drained soil. Most sweet cherries need a second variety for cross pollination, though self fertile types such as Stella and Lapins do not.
Production and harvest
A tree usually starts bearing fruit 3 to 5 years after planting for dwarf varieties and up to 7 years for standard ones. Harvest occurs from late May to July depending on the region. Rain at harvest causes fruit to split, and birds are common pests. Washington is the top US sweet cherry producer, and Michigan leads in tart cherries. A cup of sweet cherries has about 97 calories, 3 grams of fiber and 342 mg of potassium. Tart cherries contain melatonin and anthocyanins, with small studies suggesting they may help sleep and muscle recovery.
Based on data from the USDA and university extension programs
