The Black cherry or prunus serotina tree is native to North America and grows well in the US Department of Agriculture hardiness zone 2a to 8a. Black Cherry fruit is known for its bitter taste, fragrant fruit which is not likely to be eaten fresh, so most of the time it is used to make wines. Some people also call this a wild cherry tree.
The Black Cherry tree can produce fruit from as low as 5 years old, still, some of the fruit trees take at least 10 years of age to start bearing. It takes 30 years (2-3 decades depending on plant, place, and other things) for the Black Cherry tree to mature and give fruits to peak production. Cherry trees bloom in spring and give cherries in late May, June, and July.
It is common for the black cherry tree to start producing fruits just after a few years but it can take longer (1-3 decades) to produce peak production.
Other Factors Affect Fruit On Cherry Trees :
Other factors that affect the black cherry tree to produce fruit and the growth of the tree.
1. Temperature
The black cherry tree is the same as other fruit trees (apples, pears, peaches) it requires a minimum number of cold nights to produce maximum fruits. Sweet cherries need around 700 to 900 hours of chill or 45 degrees F or less.
Sour variety cherry trees like English Morelo needs fewer chill hours compared to sweet cherry trees to produce more fruits. Sour variety is ok with 400 to 700 hours of chill hours to give its yield (It all depends on the variety of the cherry plant you choose).
If cherry trees won’t get enough cold hours in winter then it won’t break the dormacy and wont give flowers or fruits. This won’t be good if you are living in a warmer area, but its god way or nature’s way of protecting trees. If trees flower in the early winter, during later frost all the flowers will be destroyed and this will also destroy the chance of growing fruits.
2. Watering
Black cherry trees need more water during the hottest climate, however, it is also possible that you can overwater the tree. Don’t overwater and make the soil soggy and don’t make water stand in the soil this will destroy the roots of the trees.
Here are the tips to water your garden efficiently. click here
If you have less water you can do drip irrigation, or sprinkling to solve the water problem.
If you are underwater also it leads plants to become weaker and will also produce fewer fruits.
3. Fertilizing
If you fertilize the tree two times a year, it will give more strength to the tree to grow and give more fruits.
Fertilizing is normally given in the form of npk fertilizer to any plant. Nowadays people tend to use more organic manure than industry fertilizer.
I always prepare my fertilizer from my home kitchen waste to make my tree strong and healthier.
Fertilizers can also be given in the form of liquid also to give in the same pipe as drip irrigation.
Organic fertilizer good yield in the long run. I always suggest using organic fertilizer.
First, check the soil ph level before pushing fertilizer into the soil, Black cherry trees like to grow happily in PG levels 6.5 to 6.8.
4. Pruning
Almost all the trees want pruning and to get bushier, and branch out, we do pruning. We do this in late winter to encourage new growth.
New growth means more stems, and leaves, which also will result in more fruits.
Use a cleaned prunner (cutter) to do the pruning otherwise if previously cut with other trees have some disease. It will spread to your tree also. So clean well before using a pruner for your tree.
5. Soil
Black cherry trees grow well in well-drainable soil. Where water gets drained quickly. we need PH 6.0 to 6.8 level for the plant to grow well.
Get the soil tested and do the changes as suggested to get a good fruit yield.
Sweet cherry trees are more sensitive to improper drainage. Improper drainage leads to root rot, a bacterial disease, and crown rot which cause a serious problem if it is not addressed well in time.
6. Tree Pollination
Sour cherry trees are self pollinated so no need to worry about pollination. Most of the Sweet cherry trees are cross-pollinated and also ideal for California’s coastal region.
While getting make sure you get cross-pollinated variety for successful pollination. They also have different chilling requirements for each kind of tree.
7. Pest Management
During bloom period pest management is cruical. use dormant oil spray in winter to control the scale. Use nets to protect from birds and use mesh to protect from rodents.
FAQ:
Q. Can you eat black cherry tree fruit?
A. I always like to eat black wild cherry fruit and have my tree to get cherry fruit every year. Black Cherry fruit is known for its bitter taste, fragrant fruit which is not likely to be eaten fresh, so most of the time it is used to make wines. Some people also call this a wild cherry tree.
Q. When do black cherry trees produce fruit?
A. The Black Cherry tree can produce fruit from as low as 5 years old, still, some of the fruit trees take at least 10 years of age to start bearing. It takes 30 years (2-3 decades depending on plant, place, and other things) for the Black Cherry tree to mature and give fruits to peak production. Cherry trees bloom in spring and give cherries in late May, June, and July.
Q. Do you need 2 black cherry trees?
A. Sour cherry trees are self pollinated so no need to worry about pollination. Most of the Sweet cherry trees are cross-pollinated and also ideal for California’s coastal region.While getting make sure you get cross-pollinated variety for successful pollination. They also have different chilling requirements for each kind of tree.
Q. How long do black cherry trees live?
A. Cherry trees can survive for almost 15-30 years but the Black sour cherry variety tree can survive from 150-250 years. Purely depends on the site, sunlight, well-drainable soil, water, well atmosphere cold and hot climate.
Q. Do black cherry trees produce fruit every year?
A. Cherry trees do not produce fruit every year. Younger trees can produce fruit from as low as 5 years old, still, some of the fruit trees take at least 10 years of age to start bearing. It takes 30 years (2-3 decades depending on plant, place, and other things) for the Black Cherry tree to mature and give fruits to peak production. Cherry trees bloom in spring and give cherries in late May, June, and July.
Q.What time of year do cherry trees produce fruit?
A. Younger trees can produce fruit from as low as 5 years old, still, some of the fruit trees take at least 10 years of age to start bearing. It takes 30 years (2-3 decades depending on plant, place, and other things) for the Black Cherry tree to mature and give fruits to peak production. Cherry trees bloom in spring and give cherries in late May, June, and July.
Q. Why did my cherry tree not produce fruit?
A. The black cherry tree is the same as other fruit trees (apples, pears, peaches) it requires a minimum number of cold nights to produce maximum fruits. Sweet cherries need around 700 to 900 hours of chill or 45 degrees F or less. If it more frost all the flowers will be destroyed and there will be no fruit from the tree.
Final Thoughts:
I always like to eat black wild cherry fruit and have my tree to get cherry fruit every year. Let me know in the comments are able to get more fruits with these tips.
