The prospect of harvesting fresh cherries from your own backyard starts with selecting a healthy specimen and the right variety for your location. This guide walks you through the necessary steps for purchasing, from deciding on the appropriate type to inspecting the tree’s health. Making an informed choice significantly increases the likelihood of a robust, fruit-producing tree for years to come.
Selecting the Ideal Cherry Variety
The initial decision centers on the type of fruit: sweet cherries (Prunus avium) or tart/sour cherries (Prunus cerasus). Sweet varieties are typically consumed fresh and require cross-pollination, though some newer cultivars are self-fertile. Tart cherries, primarily used for baking and preserves, are usually self-pollinating, making them suitable for smaller spaces.
Understanding your region’s climate is important, particularly the requirement for chilling hours—the period of cold temperatures (32°F to 45°F) needed for the tree to break dormancy and set fruit. Most sweet cherry varieties require 700 to 1,000 chilling hours. Tart types often range from 800 to 1,500 hours. Choosing a variety that does not meet its chilling hour requirement will result in poor bud break and low fruit yield.
The tree’s ultimate size is determined by the rootstock onto which the fruiting variety has been grafted. Standard rootstocks produce large trees up to 40 feet tall. Semi-dwarf rootstocks restrict height to 15 to 20 feet, and true dwarf rootstocks keep the tree under 10 feet. Selecting a dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock, such as Gisela 5 or Mazzard, is advisable for home gardens to simplify pruning and harvesting.
Different Retail Sources for Purchase
Cherry trees can be sourced from several retail environments, each with different benefits and drawbacks.
Local Nurseries
Local, specialized nurseries offer expert advice tailored to your specific microclimate and soil conditions. Purchasing here allows you to visually inspect the exact containerized or balled-and-burlap (B&B) tree you are buying, ensuring its immediate health and structure.
Chain Retail Stores
Large chain retail stores provide convenience and sometimes lower prices, but they typically carry a limited selection of common cultivars. Staff may lack specialized knowledge regarding rootstocks or regional suitability. Furthermore, the plants may not receive consistent watering or care while on display.
Mail-Order Nurseries
Mail-order or online specialty nurseries offer the broadest selection, including rare cultivars and a wide range of rootstocks not available locally. These vendors commonly ship trees as bare-root stock during the dormant season (late winter or early spring). Bare-root trees are economical, lighter to ship, and often establish quickly, but they must be planted immediately upon arrival.
Tree Types
Containerized trees, typically sold at local stores, can be planted throughout the growing season, offering flexibility. Balled-and-burlap trees are generally larger, more mature specimens. However, they involve a higher cost and require careful handling to prevent the heavy root ball from breaking apart.
Physical Inspection Before Buying
A thorough physical inspection is necessary to ensure you acquire a healthy specimen ready for planting. Examine the trunk and branches for any signs of physical damage, such as deep cuts, scraped bark, or weeping sap, which can indicate disease or pest infestation. The bark should appear smooth and unblemished.
Locate the graft union—the slightly swollen area where the fruiting scion meets the rootstock—and confirm that it is intact and solid. For container-grown trees, this union should be positioned several inches above the soil line. If the union is buried, the scion may develop its own roots, nullifying the size-controlling effects of the rootstock.
When inspecting a container tree, look for signs of circling roots near the edges of the pot, which indicate the tree is pot-bound and requires careful pruning before planting. Bare-root trees should have roots that feel plump and moist, not brittle or dried out. They must also be free of large, knotty swellings, which could signal crown gall disease.
Immediate Care After Purchase
The period between purchase and permanent planting requires immediate care to maintain the tree’s viability.
Bare-Root Care
If you have purchased a bare-root tree, protect its roots from drying out by soaking them in water for 6 to 24 hours before planting. If planting must be delayed beyond a day or two, the tree should be temporarily planted, a process known as heeling in. Heeling in involves digging a shallow trench in a shaded spot and covering the roots with moist soil, sand, or sawdust until the permanent location is ready.
Containerized Tree Care
For containerized trees, the primary focus is maintaining soil moisture, as the limited volume of soil can dry out quickly, especially if exposed to wind or direct sun. These trees should be placed in a sheltered area, such as against a north-facing wall, and watered regularly until they are installed in the ground.
Temperature Protection
Protecting the tree from temperature extremes is also important. Never leave a purchased tree sitting in a hot, enclosed vehicle. Even a short period of excessive heat can severely stress the vascular system and compromise the tree’s chances of successful establishment.