Dwarf Cherries

[Native Hunter]

I've been planting some fruit trees on the small farm my son bought which adjoins my farm. These are for human consumption rather than wildlife.

He wanted some cherry trees, and I tried to explain that the birds would get them before he ever had a chance. Then I did some research and found some dwarf bush cherries that are more like shrubs than trees. So I decided to give it a whirl. Since they only get 6.5 feet high, I thought a guy could easily throw bird nets over them to protect the fruit when the time came.

I bought these from Henry Fields. They are natural dwarfs on their own rootstock. These are the named cultivars of Romeo, Juliet and Carmine Jewel. All are self pollinating.

These were developed in Canada, so not sure how they will do here. The southern limit is undetermined according to the following source.

http://uncommonfruit.cias.wisc.edu/carmine-jewel/

But Henry Fields shows Zones 2b to 7:

http://www.henryfields.com/product/Carmine_Jewel_Dwarf_Cherry_Tree/cherry_trees

I've taken chances before.

At least, I was impressed with the roots on these suckers!

 

[roth2000]

I too have all 3 of those varieties but they have only been in the ground for a year. I was also impressed with the root system on the bushes I got last year from henry fields. Hopefully the take off this year.

 

[John-W-WI]

This is probably a really dumb question, but what kind of cherries will they grow? The kind you find in the grocery store?

I planted some sand cherries several years ago. They just started to bear fruit and I put a driveway through where I planted them. They didn't get moved so I lost them. IIRC they were pretty tasty, but I don't think they had a pit?

-John

 

[roth2000]

I should also add that I have a couple Crimson passion bushes as well, but those were from a different vendor and are proving more slow going than the others. The type of cherry they produce would be considered a sour cherry or pie cherry but probably the sweetest of sour cherries. They typically have a brix as high or higher that sweet cherries but also a high acid level which makes them sour as well. I have read that Juliet, Romeo, and Crimson passion are edible off the bush if allowed to ripen til the cherries are very dark almost black in color.

 

[Native Hunter]

John, they have pictures of them on the Henry Fields web site. Also the description that roth2000 gave is pretty much in line with what I've read. They should be decent for fresh eating and pies as well.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Homemade cherry pies for your buddies on the forum ?????

 

[Native Hunter]

Homemade cherry pies for your buddies on the forum ?????

And a wonderful place to have a bird hunt!!!!