Tart Cherry

Tart cherries prefer well-drained soil around pH 6.0-7.0 and moderate fertility; wet roots and excessive nitrogen both cause problems. Most common cultivars are self-fruitful, and light annual pruning keeps the canopy open without removing too much fruiting wood.

Sun

Full sun

Water

Water deeply during establishment; adjust to rainfall and soil

Spacing

180 in

First harvest

3–5 years

Tips

• Plant a hardy grafted nursery tree with the graft union above soil and enough room for its rootstock's mature size.
• Water deeply during the first two growing seasons and during dry fruit-development periods.
• Use soil-test-based fertilizer rather than heavy nitrogen, especially where shoots already grow vigorously.
• Establish strong, well-spaced branches before heavy cropping and prune in dry weather while checking for cankers and cherry leaf spot.
• Use taut bird netting and pick fully colored, juicy cherries, leaving stems attached when storing the fruit.

Plant dormant grafted bare-root trees in early spring or container-grown nursery trees in spring.