Cherry tree

Scientific name (Latin): Prunus avium alt. Prunus cerasus

Family: Rose family (Rosaceae),

In practice, it is possible to grow a cherry tree from a cherry seed, but it is considerably easier and more practical to plant a ready-made plant. As with other fruit trees, planting is simple, as long as good preparation has been done in terms of the location of the tree and the soil it will be planted in. Choose a tree based on how hardy it is, and of course based on the type of fruit you want. In addition, the location where you plan to plant the cherry tree must have well-drained and airy soil around it. Simply filling up with good soil is not enough, if the tree will be surrounded by soil of lower quality later on.

Sweet cherry 'Bigarreau Napoléon'

Medium sterk vekst, opprett tre med hvite blomster i mai. Senere utvikler det oransje-gule frukter med røde kinn. Søt og god smak. Pollineres blant annet av 'Hedelfinger'. Herdighetssone 4.

Sour cherry 'Fanal'

Opprett, middels stort tre med svært rikelig avling. Fruktene er mørke, store og sure, egnet for husholdningsbruk. Modnes fra midten av august. Selvfertilt og en viktig sort i Norge. Herdighetssone 5.

Sour cherry 'Morellenfeuer'

Middels sterk vekst med vinrøde bær som har en søt-sur smak, betydelig søtere enn mange andre sorter. Fruktkjøttet løsner lett fra steinen. Bærer frukt tidlig. Selvfertilt. Herdighetssone 5.

Sour cherry 'Wormdal'

Middels stort, friskt tre med mørkerøde, store frukter med sur smak. Selvfertilt, men gir bedre avling når det plantes sammen med 'Fanal'. Herdighetssone 5.

Pollinering av kirsebærtrær

Noen kirsebærsorter er selvfertile, noe som betyr at de kan pollinere seg selv, men avlingen blir best når det finnes en annen sort i nærheten. Nedenfor er en oversikt over sorter som pollinerer hverandre. Sortene til venstre er tilgjengelige i Plantagens sortiment og pollineres av sortene over

Sweet Cherry 'Bigarreau Napoléon'

Medium strong growth, upright tree with white flowers in May and later orange-yellow fruits with red cheeks. Sweet and good. Pollinated by, among others, 'Hedelfinger'. Hardy zone 4.

Sour Cherry 'Fanal'

Upright medium-sized tree with a very rich harvest. Dark, large, and sour fruit. Good for household use. Ripens from mid-August. Self-fertile. An important variety in Norway. Hardy zone 5.

Sour Cherry 'Morellenfeuer'

Medium strong growth. Wine-red berries with a sweet-sour taste, significantly sweeter than many other varieties. The flesh easily separates from the stone. Bears fruit at a young age. Self-fertile. Hardy zone 5.

Sour Cherry 'Wormdal'

Medium-sized, fresh tree with dark-red, large fruits with a sour taste. Self-fertile. Bears better fruit when planted with 'Fanal'. Hardy zone 5.

Pollination of Cherry Trees

Some cherry varieties are self-fertile, meaning they can pollinate themselves, but the yield is best when there is another variety nearby. Below is an overview of varieties that pollinate each other. The varieties on the left are available in Plantagen's assortment and are pollinated by the varieties above.

Cherry Tree Care

The cherry tree does not require much effort when it comes to care.

Fertilization

When it comes to fertilization, it is wise to wait a few years before starting to add fertilizer, just like with other fruit trees. After a few years, however, you can use slow-release fertilizer that you work properly into the soil around your cherry tree.

Watering

In case of a longer drought in the summer, it may be advisable to water the cherry tree, but usually, it manages well with the natural rainfall.

Pest and Disease Control

Also, make sure to check for any pests or diseases on the tree regularly.

Pruning the Cherry Tree

When it comes to pruning the cherry tree, it differs from other fruit trees as it is very sensitive to being pruned too hard.

Pruning Recommendations

You should preferably avoid pruning in most cases. However, if pruning is necessary, make sure it is only a light pruningand that it is done in the autumn.

Risks of Improper Pruning

A cherry tree pruned in the spring risks starting to bleed, and if pruned too much, the tree will most likely die. While it may be a hardy tree in many other ways, when it comes to pruning, it is not tough at all.

Cherry Tree Varieties

The cherry, which belongs to the plum family, exists in several different species and varieties, including the species sweet cherry, known as morello. The division does not stop there, as cherries can be further classified into various variations. This includes the common sweet cherry, morello cherries, and heart cherries.

Hybrid Varieties

Naturally, there are also cultivated hybrids where sweet cherries have been crossed with sour cherries to create completely new varieties. In addition to the sweet cherry, there is also the sour cherry, which grows wild in large parts of Europe. These trees do not grow as large as those that bear sweet cherries, typically reaching a height of around 4–10 meters.

Japanese Cherry Tree

Then we have the Japanese ornamental cherry trees, many of which also thrive well in Nordic climates. The Japanese ornamental cherry tree grows naturally in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and many Chinese provinces. When the tree blooms, Japan celebrates the holiday Hanami.

Cherry Blossom in Japan

Perhaps you have visited Japan when the cherry trees were in full bloom? It is a popular tourist attraction and an important tradition for the Japanese people.

Growing Cherry Trees in Your Garden

Having a cherry tree in your garden not only allows you to enjoy this natural artwork up close, but also provides you with a harvest of the wonderfully delicious cherry, also known as the sweet cherry or morello. Under good conditions, the tree can produce plenty of fruit, which you can easily pick directly from the tree as soon as it is ripe.

Blooms in April-May with beautiful, white flowers in small clusters.The cherry is actually a stone fruit and not a berry.In Norway, it is primarily the sour cherry, morello cherry, that is cultivated.The cherry tree is very sensitive to pruning.There are both sweet and sour varieties of cherries.A cherry tree with sweet cherries can grow between 15-30 meters high.

Read more: Good tips - Outdoor plants and garden, You are here: Tips and advice - Plant guide