Craig’s Crimson Cherry Tree
Cherries are a practical fruit for home orchards where climate and soil conditions are suitable. Once established, they require little maintenance and are reliable producers. They are best adapted to areas where summers are moderately cool. The trees dislike high humidity. They are usually the last fruit to bloom and first to ripen. Most varieties require a pollenizer. Sweet cherries can reach 25-30 feet tall in deep soils. Sensitive to wet, tight soils. Susceptible to birds, brown rot, and bacterial canker. The trees are 2 years old and you can expect to harvest 4th or 5th year. On Maxma rootstock for sweet cherries; trees dwarfed to about 2/3 of standard. Less dwarfing expected in fertile loamy soils. Induces early heavy bearing; crop management may be needed for productive varieties in early years. Good tolerance to wet soils, also performs well in calcareous soils. Resistant to bacterial canker and nematodes. Well anchored, very little suckering.Trees begin bearing at young age. Unpruned, trees on Maxma reach 2/3 the size of standard (about 28′-32′). By pruning, you can keep your tree to any size.
