Top 20 Cherry Varieties to Grow: Tips and Advice for a Successful Harvest

Cherries are beloved for their sweet or tart flavors and versatility in the kitchen. Whether you’re growing cherries for fresh eating, baking, or preserving, selecting the right variety is essential for a successful harvest. This guide explores the top 20 cherry varieties to grow, offering helpful tips and advice to ensure your cherry trees thrive and produce abundant, delicious fruit.

1. Bing

Bing is one of the most popular sweet cherry varieties, known for its large, dark red fruit and sweet flavor. It’s perfect for fresh eating.

Tip: Bing cherry trees need a pollinator, such as Black Tartarian or Rainier, for better fruit set.

2. Rainier

Rainier cherries are known for their beautiful golden-yellow skin with a red blush and sweet, delicate flavor. They’re a favorite for fresh eating.

Tip: Rainier cherries need full sun and well-drained soil. They also require a pollinator, such as Bing or Montmorency.

3. Montmorency

Montmorency is the most popular sour cherry variety, perfect for pies, jams, and preserves. The bright red fruit is tart and flavorful.

Tip: Montmorency cherry trees are self-pollinating but will produce better with a pollinator like English Morello.

4. Black Tartarian

Black Tartarian cherries are smaller, dark red, and sweet. They are often used as a pollinator for other sweet cherry varieties.

Tip: Plant Black Tartarian in a sunny spot with well-drained soil for optimal growth and fruiting.

5. Lapins

Lapins cherries are a self-pollinating sweet cherry variety that produces large, dark red fruit with a rich, sweet flavor.

Tip: Lapins cherry trees are vigorous and productive, so prune them regularly to maintain their size and shape.

6. Stella

Stella is a popular self-pollinating cherry variety, producing large, dark red cherries with a sweet, juicy flavor.

Tip: Stella is an excellent choice for smaller gardens due to its compact size and reliable production.

7. English Morello

English Morello is a tart cherry variety known for its dark red, almost black fruit. It’s excellent for cooking, canning, and making desserts.

Tip: English Morello trees are self-fertile and thrive in colder climates, making them a great choice for northern regions.

8. Sweetheart

Sweetheart cherries are bright red with a sweet, firm texture. They ripen later in the season, extending your cherry harvest.

Tip: Sweetheart cherry trees are self-pollinating, but planting them near another variety can boost yields.

9. Chelan

Chelan is an early-ripening sweet cherry variety that produces firm, dark red fruit with a sweet flavor. It’s ideal for fresh eating.

Tip: Chelan cherries need a pollinator like Bing or Rainier for the best fruit production.

10. Royal Ann

Royal Ann cherries are light yellow with a pink blush, similar in appearance to Rainier. They are sweet and juicy, perfect for fresh eating and canning.

Tip: Plant Royal Ann cherries in full sun and well-drained soil. They need a pollinator such as Bing or Black Tartarian.

11. Van

Van cherries are medium-sized, dark red, and sweet with a firm texture. They’re great for fresh eating and cooking.

Tip: Van cherries require a pollinator, such as Bing or Lapins, for optimal fruit production.

12. Carmine Jewel

Carmine Jewel is a dwarf, bush cherry variety that produces small, tart cherries ideal for baking and preserves. It’s cold-hardy and productive.

Tip: This variety is self-pollinating and well-suited for colder climates and small spaces.

13. Kristin

Kristin is a cold-hardy sweet cherry variety that produces large, dark red fruit with excellent flavor. It’s perfect for northern climates.

Tip: Kristin cherry trees need a pollinator like Stella or Bing to produce fruit.

14. Early Richmond

Early Richmond is an early-ripening tart cherry variety with bright red fruit that’s great for pies, jams, and jellies.

Tip: Early Richmond is self-pollinating but benefits from being planted near other tart cherry varieties.

15. Glacier

Glacier cherries are large, dark red, and sweet, perfect for fresh eating. This variety is self-pollinating, making it a convenient choice for home gardeners.

Tip: Prune Glacier cherry trees regularly to maintain their shape and encourage healthy fruit production.

16. Hudson

Hudson is a late-season sweet cherry variety with large, firm, dark red fruit. It’s great for fresh eating and cooking.

Tip: Hudson cherries need a pollinator like Bing or Lapins for better yields.

17. Nanking

Nanking cherries are a small, bush variety that produces tart cherries. They are ideal for preserves and cold-hardy enough for northern regions.

Tip: Nanking cherry bushes are self-pollinating and make excellent ornamental plants due to their attractive flowers and compact size.

18. Balaton

Balaton is a tart cherry variety with dark red fruit and a rich, tangy flavor. It’s perfect for pies, preserves, and drying.

Tip: Balaton cherry trees are self-fertile but will produce larger crops with a pollinator nearby.

19. Meteor

Meteor is a dwarf sour cherry variety that produces medium-sized, bright red cherries with a tart flavor. It’s excellent for small gardens.

Tip: Meteor cherries are self-pollinating but benefit from cross-pollination with other tart cherry varieties.

20. Santina

Santina is an early-ripening sweet cherry variety with large, dark red fruit and a mild, sweet flavor. It’s perfect for fresh eating.

Tip: Santina cherry trees are self-fertile, but planting them near another cherry variety can improve fruit size and quantity.

Tips for Growing Cherries Successfully

1. Full sun for best fruiting: Plant cherry trees in a location that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to encourage healthy growth and fruit production.
2. Well-drained soil: Cherries prefer well-drained, sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Avoid heavy clay soils that retain too much moisture.
3. Watering: Water cherry trees deeply and consistently, especially during the growing season. Keep the soil evenly moist, but avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
4. Mulch around the base: Mulch around the base of your cherry trees with organic matter, such as straw or wood chips, to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
5. Pruning: Prune cherry trees annually in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged branches and to shape the tree for better airflow and light penetration.
6. Fertilize in spring: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring to encourage healthy growth. Avoid over-fertilizing, as too much nitrogen can reduce fruit production.
7. Pest control: Keep an eye out for common pests such as cherry fruit flies, aphids, and birds. Use netting or bird deterrents to protect your fruit as it ripens.
8. Pollination: Most sweet cherry varieties need a pollinator, so plant at least two compatible varieties to ensure good fruit set. Tart cherries are generally self-pollinating.

Common Questions and Answers

Q1: How long does it take for a cherry tree to bear fruit?
Cherry trees typically begin producing fruit 3 to 5 years after planting.

Q2: What is the best time to plant cherry trees?
The best time to plant cherry trees is in early spring or late fall when the tree is dormant.

Q3: How often should I water cherry trees?
Cherry trees should be watered deeply about once a week, more frequently in hot or dry weather.

Q4: Can cherries be grown in containers?
Yes, dwarf cherry varieties like Carmine Jewel and Meteor can be grown successfully in large containers.

Q5: How do I protect cherries from birds?
Use netting or bird deterrents to protect cherries from birds, as they love ripe cherries and can easily strip a tree of its fruit.