Prunus avium, P. cerasus
Family: Rosaceae

Of the hundreds of varieties of cherry cultivated, most are parented by two very old species, P. avium (sweet cherry) and P. cerasus (sour cherry). All are small, deciduous trees, very pretty when in bloom with their lovely blossoms gracing their bare branches, and the cherry is one of the most commonly home-grown orchard fruits. The sweet cherry is delicious raw and cooked in pies, while the small, bitter, wild cherry is used in liqueur.

Varieties

There are many varieties of cherries, especially sweet cherries, but these vary from one region to another. It is best to request a catalogue from a specialist fruit nursery to see what is available in your area. Such catalogues also usually offer much useful advice on choosing suitable varieties. You need to make sure the variety chosen is self-fertile or whether it needs another variety to pollinate it. Obviously it is sensible to choose the heaviest cropping varieties, as cropping capacity does vary. Cherries ripen in the summer, exact timing depending on variety.

Cultivation

Sweet cherries are vigorous trees but these days are normally bought on dwarfing rootstocks and grown mainly as fan-trained trees on walls, as this is the least space-consuming method for small gardens. They can also be grown as standard or bush trees. Sweet cherries need a deep, fertile, well-drained soil and a sheltered site in full sun. Fan-trained trees and bush trees on dwarfing rootstocks are spaced 4.5 m (15 ft) apart.

Trees on more vigorous rootstocks need correspondingly more space. Fan-trained trees will need regular summer pruning by cutting back the side shoots to within six leaves of the main framework branches.

Some cultivars of sweet cherry are self-fertile so one tree should be sufficient, but this is not always the case and two varieties may be needed which flower at the same time and pollinate each other. Obtain advice on cultivars when buying trees from a specialist fruit nursery. Sour or acid cherries are not as vigorous as sweet cherries and therefore are better for small gardens.

The Morello is the most widely grown of the acid cherries and as it is self-fertile, it can be grown alone. Acid cherries need the same conditions and are grown in the same way as sweet cherries but they can be planted closer. Trees on dwarfing rootstocks can be planted 3.6 m (11 ft) apart.

Pruning of fan-trained trees is different as fruits are produced on the previous year's side shoots, so these are cut out after fruiting, leaving the new side shoots to fruit the following year. All cherries benefit from the application of a general-purpose fertilizer in late winter each year. You may need to protect the fruits from birds. Fan-trained trees can have fine netting hung in front of them.

Climate

Cherries are best in zones 6 to 8. They need cool or cold winters, but not excessively cold. Conversely very warm or hot climates are not suitable. The sour cherry is much more adaptable climatically than the sweet cherry.