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Cherry Tree
Prunus avium
A short glorious season — one dwarf tree fits any small garden.
Sun
Full sun
Water
Weekly first 2 years
Soil
Deep loam, pH 6.5–7.5
Spacing
3 m (dwarf); 6 m (standard)
Days to harvest
1st fruit year 3–4
Hardiness
Zones 4–8
Seasonal Calendar
S
S
S
H
H
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Choose dwarf rootstock
'Gisela 5' or 'Colt' keep trees under 3 m and net-able.
- 2
Plant with pollinator
Except for self-fertile varieties like 'Stella' and 'Sunburst'.
- 3
Net before ripening
Birds will strip an unprotected tree in one afternoon.
- 4
Prune in summer
Never prune cherries in winter — silver leaf risk.
Common problems
Cherry fruit fly
Sticky traps in mid-June; harvest promptly.
Splitting fruit
Rain near harvest causes splits — cover the tree if you can.
Good neighbors
ChiveMarigoldNasturtium
Field tips
- “Sour ('Morello') cherries thrive on a shady north wall.”
- “Stone before freezing — pit dust turns to bitter almond in storage.”