Sweet cherries are the ones most often found in markets. They have a thick, rich, and almost plum-like texture. Traditionally, sweet cherry trees are self-sterile and best for an orchard or in a garden. You’ll need at least two or three trees so that they can pollinate each other. However, a recent and exciting development in sweet cherries is the dwarf self-pollinating.

Sweet cherries produce delicious fruit and are usually grown as small open trees, garden or fences. They can also be grown in large containers – and if you choose a self-fertile cultivate, they will fruit without a pollination partner. Acid cherries are self-fertile, tolerate some shade and are ideal for a north-facing wall. Their fruits are excellent for cooking and make delicious jam.


Lerie Cherries

Plant

Cherries prefer deep, fertile and well-drained soil with pH 6.5-6.7. They dislike shallow, sandy or badly drained soils.

Acid cherries tolerate some shade and are suitable in the north-facing walls, open gardens or fences, or as open center bush trees.

Cherries grow properly well in southern and central England, well nourished tropical and moderate temperatures which are common in the United States.

Sweet cherries are grow to about 4-6m (14-20ft) making medium height trees and are best grown – ideally against sunny walls in gardens.

Semi dwarf cherries trees grows to 3-4m (10-13ft) – they are ideal as dwarf bush trees or for containers.

Acid cherries are less vigorous, grows to a height and spread of 3-3.5m (10-12ft).

Some sweet cherries need pollination partners, others are self fertile, producing fruit on a single tree. Acid cherries are self-fertile. Cherries flower early in the year, if frost is forecast, protect the blossom with horticultural fleece, removing it during the day to allow access to pollinating insects.

Plant cherries during the planting season.