Cherries
The wild cherry, Prunus avium has given rise to the sweet cherry
whereas the sour cherry, Prunus cerasus
has given rise to the acid cherry. Sweet cherries are larger and have a firmer
flesh than acid cherries. Sweet cherries can be eaten straight from the tree or
can be used for culinary purposes whereas the acid cherry is purely for culinary
purposes.
Cherries are early flowering so they require protection from frost, sweet
cherries need a sheltered site in full sun, or they can be fan-trained against a
south or south-west facing wall or fence, acid cherries are less fussy but both
types need deep, moist but well-drained soil (pH 6.5-6.7).
Rootstocks
Rootstocks in order of their vigour are outlined below: -
Gisela 5 - Dwarf. This
rootstock is 60% smaller than Colt making it an ideal rootstock for growing
cherries in patio pots. Needs to be grown in fertile soil. Trees grown on this
rootstock will reach a height of 2.5-3m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear
fruit within 3 years. Use for bushes and fans.
Colt - Semi-Vigorous. A
very productive rootstock which will grow on a wide range of soils. Trees grown
on this rootstock will reach a height of 4-5m. Trees grown on this rootstock
will bear fruit within 4-5 years. Use for bushes, half-standards, pyramids and
fans.
F.12.1 - Very Vigorous.
Suitable for a wide range of soils including poor soils and grassed orchards.
Staking is preferable but not necessary if planted as a one year old. Stake for
the first 3 years if planted as 2 or 3 year old trees. Trees grown on this
rootstock will reach a height of 6m. Trees grown on this rootstock will bear
fruit within 5-6 years. Use for standards.
Varieties
Cherries are available as bare-root one-year-maidens from November to March.
Trained forms of cherries are available in 12 litre pots all-year-round.
Cherry ‘Amber Heart’
Dessert. Large to very large rounded to heart-shaped fruits which have pink
to dark red skin. The pale yellow flesh is juicy, sweet, and good quality. Its
season of use is early July. Pollinated by any Self Fertile variety
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Bigarreau Gaucher’
Dessert. Large to very large roundish to heart shaped fruits which has almost
black coloured skin. The very dark red flesh is fairly firm, juicy, and good
quality. Its season of use is mid-August. (Kent 1907) Pollinated by Bradbourne
Black and Stella.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Black Oliver’
Dessert. Medium to large roundish to heart shaped fruits which have almost
black coloured skin. The very dark red flesh is fairly soft, fibrous, juicy, and
good quality. Its season of use is early August. (West Midlands) Pollinated By
Stella, Sunburst, and Sweetheart.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Celeste’
Dessert. Large fruits with dark red skin. Excellent eating quality. Its
season of use is early July. (Canada 1990) Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Colt £21.50 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Colney’
Dessert. Large deep red to black fruits. The flesh is sweet and juicy and of
superb quality. Its season of use is mid August. (Norfolk)
Cherry ‘Early Rivers’
Dessert. Large heart shaped fruits which have a shiny black skin. The dark
red flesh is fairly soft, juicy, and very good quality. Its season of use is
early June. (Sawbridgeworth 1869)
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Kordia’
Dessert. Heart shaped fruits which have carmine red to dark red skin. The red
flesh is good quality. Its season of use is mid-August. (Czech) Pollinated by
any Self Fertile variety.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £25.25 each
Cherry ‘Lapin's ‘Cherokee’
Dessert. Large fruits which have dark red skin. The flesh has an excellent
flavour. A garden favourite. Upright and strong growth habit and bears heavy
yields. Its season of use is late July. (Canada 1984). Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £25.25 each
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each
Cherry ‘Merton Bigarreau’
Dessert. Black skinned cherry. The flesh is firm with an outstanding flavour.
Its season of use is late July. Pollinated by Napoleon Bigarreau, Roundel, and
Stella.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Merton Glory’
Dessert. A very large heart-shaped which has white skin. The flesh is sweet.
Its season of use is early July. (John Innes Institute, Surry, 1931). Pollinated
by ‘Stella’ or ‘Sunburst’.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Morello’
Cooker. Large roundish fruits which have a dark red, shiny skin. The very
dark red flesh is soft, juicy, and acid. Very hardy. Ideal for north walls. Its
season of use is late July. Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £25.25 each
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Containerised Trees
Two Year Bush (Colt) (125-150cm) £34.10 each
Cherry ‘Napoleon Bigarreau’
Dessert. Very large, long, heart shaped fruits which have bright to dark red
skin on a pale yellow background. The pale yellow flesh is very firm, and very
juicy. Its season of use is mid-July. An excellent white cherry. (Germany)
Pollinated by Gaucher, Merton Bigarreau, Stella, and Sunburst.
Cherry ‘Noir de Guben’
Dessert. Large to very large heart shaped fruits which have almost black
skin. The very dark red flesh is firm, fairly juicy, and good quality. Its
season of use is late July. (Germany) Pollinated by Colney or Merton Glory.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Penny’
Dessert. Large fruits which have black skin. The flesh is firm and of
outstanding quality. Its season of use is late August. (Kent 1998) Pollinated by
any Self fertile variety.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £26.75 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Petit Noir’
Dessert. Large heart shaped fruits which have black skin. The flesh is good
quality. Its season of use is early August. Self Fertile.
Cherry ‘Regina’
Dessert. A highly productive black cherry. The flesh is sweet, aromatic, and
excellent quality. Its season of use is mid-July. (Germany) Pollinated by any
Self Fertile variety.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £25.25 each
Containerised Trees
One Year Maiden G5 3 Litre £25.25 each
Cherry ‘Roundel Heart’
Dessert. Large heart shaped fruits which have red to dark red skin, which is
very shiny. The very dark red flesh is fairly soft, fairly juicy, and very good
quality. Its season of use is late July.(Kent) Pollinated by Stella and
Sunburst.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Stella’
Dessert. Large fruits which have dark red skin. The flesh is sweet and juicy.
Very reliable. Its season of use is late July. (Canada 1968) Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £25.25 each
One Year Maiden Colt £20.25 each
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Two Year Bush £23.50 each Available to
Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Two Year 1/2 Standard Colt £26.50 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Summer Sun’
Dessert. Red to dark red skinned fruits. The flesh is firm, crunchy, with an
exquisite flavour. Compact growth and suitable for cold, exposed areas where it
will crop even in unfavourable conditions. Its season of use is late July.
(Norwich) Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £25.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry ‘Sunburst’
Dessert. Large fruits which have black skin. The flesh is sweet with a
gorgeous flavour. Its season of use is late July. (Canada 1984) Self Fertile
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £25.25 each Available
to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry 'Sweetheart'
Dessert. A very precocious variety which is one of the later picking
varieties, the fruits ripen unevenly which helps to spread the season. Fruits
are firm with a good flavour. Its season of use is late August. (Canada 1990)
Self Fertile.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden G5 £26.75 each
One Year Maiden Colt £21.50 each
Cherry ‘Van’
Dessert. Large fruits which have true black skin. The flesh is very firm, and
the eating quality is superb. Its season of use is mid-July. (Canada 1944)
Pollinated by Lapins Cherokee, Stella, and Vega.
Bare Root Trees
One Year Maiden F.12.1 £21.25 each
Available to Order for Supply in Late November 2013
Cherry 'Vega'
Dessert. Very large fruits which have white skin. This variety produces
fruits up to 12 grams in weight. Its season of use is late July. (Canada)
Pollinated by Lapins Cherokee or Stella.
