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Cherry Trees

Janie BJanie B Posts: 963
edited September 2021 in Plants
We have decided to plant a trio of cherry trees in a corner of our garden, a sort of mini Cherry Orchard. I have no experience of planting trees, nor of cherries. Have done some research, and there seems to be an awful lot to choose from. I guess we could go for an early-, a mid- and a late-fruiting variety... We would like something really tasty and high yield (I've read about those sleeves to protect the fruit from birds, too). Anybody have any fave varieties they would recommend to a novice? 
Lincolnshire
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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited September 2021
    One of the things to bear in mind that many cherries are not self fertile and will need pollination from another cherry from the right group in order to produce fruit at all. Hopefully with a group of three you’ll be able to choose a selection that will all pollinate each other.  A lot of it depends on the flowering time coincides so that the pollen is available. 

    More info here https://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/trees/cherry-trees

    Orangepippin Trees is a very reliable and helpful company. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our cherries flower very well in the Spring and then we get cold spells and frosts so few pollinators.
    The fruit that does set is taken by the birds whilst it is still green.
    The only one that we can harvest is the Morello. The birds don't like cooking cherries!
  • Janie BJanie B Posts: 963
    Thanks, @Dovefromabove, I've had a look at that link... very informative. 

    Yes, @bertrand-mabel, I think the sleeves / a net are a must!
    Lincolnshire
  • Jac19Jac19 Posts: 496
    edited September 2021
    I think SUNBURST is the one with fruits I've had before.  That is self pollinating.

    I remember that some cherry trees come in one gender only.  So, you have to have another cherry tree in the area to get a good crop of fruit. 

    I am not 100% sure, but is it possible to get an edible fruit without it being pollinated, but it cant grow a tree from it?

    Anyway, make sure to buy a male tree and a female tree if you get one of the non-self-pollinating varieties.

    I have also had Cherry Blossom trees for their lovely flowers that come out all through autumn, winter, and spring.  I had them for their flowers, but they did not produce much by way of fruit.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Apparently there are late fruiting cherries which grow in Worthing which are just ripening now.
    Devon.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    So where do you buy a male and a female cherry tree? 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Jac19Jac19 Posts: 496
    edited September 2021
    Lyn said:
    So where do you buy a male and a female cherry tree? 
    "Sour or tart cherries are self-fruitful.  Self-pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma on the same flower, from another flower on the same plant, or from a flower on another plant of the same variety.  Only one sour cherry tree needs to be planted for pollination and fruit set.  Many sweet cherry varieties cannot produce fruit from their own pollen and are considered self-unfruitful.  These plants require cross-pollination for fruit set.  Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen from one plant to the flower of a different variety.  When planting self-unfruitful cultivars, at least two different sweet cherry varieties must be planted for fruit production.  While most sweet cherry varieties are self-unfruitful, BlackGold™ and WhiteGold™ are self-fruitful. " 

    https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/faq/do-i-need-plant-more-one-cherry-tree-pollination-and-fruit-set

    I have not had to do this because I bought a single self pollinating tree.  However, if you have room for 3 and are planting 3, I think you can buy male flowering and female flowering plants from good vendors who breed them.  It is best to ask a breeder.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    There are male and female flowers, not male and female trees, if I am not mistaken, but I claim no expertise on the subject, so hopefully will be corrected, if I am wrong.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You are correct Punkdoc.   Just testing😀😀😀
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    With cherries it's not male and female trees (like holly where the males don't make berries), it's like apples, some varieties need to be cross-pollinated by a different variety with the same (or overlapping) flowering time to make them set fruit. There's a list on this web page, including some varieties that are self-fertile.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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