Sour Cherry Care Guide
Our sour cherry trees are typically available in 1-gallon, 3-gallon, and 5-gallon containers. Regardless of size, they generally begin to grow and bear fruit within 1 to 2 years.
Planting Location & Preparation
Choose a location with good drainage and prepare a planting area about 6 feet in diameter. If the spot is lower than the surrounding area, add soil to raise the level slightly.
When planting, dig a hole slightly larger than the pot the tree came in, but plant the tree at approximately the same depth as it was in the container. Avoid using compost directly in the planting hole, especially near or touching the roots.
Gently tease apart the roots before planting to encourage them to grow outward into the surrounding soil. Ensure soil is placed on both sides of the root ball for the best establishment. Water thoroughly after planting. You may create a berm around the tree to help retain water while it soaks in.
Apply a thin top dressing of compost and cover the area with 1 to 2 inches of aged mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Maintenance & Pruning
Keep the area weed-free for the remainder of the growing season, or consider planting a few shallow-rooted annuals within the circle for added ground cover.
Sour cherries naturally develop a graceful, upright-spreading form and typically require minimal pruning.
In the fall, apply one cup of an organic, slow-release fertilizer per year of the tree’s age. This will support a healthy, thriving soil ecosystem around your tree.
Pest Management
Japanese beetles can pose a threat to young sour cherry trees. We recommend spraying Beetle Gone as soon as beetles are observed—typically around the last week of June in our nursery.
Plum curculio are usually less problematic for sour cherries than for plums or peaches. If you are spraying other trees after petal fall, include your sour cherries as well. We use Surround WP as a deterrent—see our Surround Guide for more detailed instructions. Since sour cherries ripen early, we typically apply only one cover spray.
Harvest & Use
Sour cherries are compact, space-saving trees with high productivity. While many cherries can be harvested from the ground, a step ladder may be helpful for reaching higher fruit.
For young trees (2–3 years old) that are already producing heavily, we recommend netting to protect the fruit. We prefer smooth-textured insect netting, which won’t snag on branches like traditional bird netting.
Sour cherries can be easily pitted using a standard kitchen cherry pitter. After pitting, they freeze well and make a delicious addition to winter recipes like fruit salads and smoothies.
Sour cherries are reliable, space-efficient fruit producers that consistently exceed expectations. With just a little care, your tree will reward you for years to come.