Fruit Bearing Cherry Trees

[LC_Hamma]

Most garden shops around here either don't sell them or say they don't grow well down south. I've tried 3 different times to try & grow them, but no success. I look at some of the big nurseries that sell them online & they say they can grow in my zone (8), so I know it's possible. I want to try growing them again but would like to get some branch clippings (6" or longer) instead of buying 2 $30.00 trees. I would like to go with a bing & a black tartarian first, but will take any other types as well, as long as they're pollinating compatible. Thanks.

 

[Jacket]

I think cherry trees need a long cool winter to produce good blossoms, which is probably hard to do in Georgia. I wonder if you could plant it in a location where the ground stays dark and cool in the winter months, but eventually opens up and gets sunny in May?

 

[bkfj40]

sounds to me like the garden shops are correct....

 

[LC_Hamma]

Maybe it's the fruit bearing one's that don't grow well. I've read where some need about 1000 chill hrs. There are plenty of Yoshino & other cherry trees around here but they're non fruit bearing

 

[splitshot]

I've got info at work, but may also be the kind of rootstock the locals are ordering from the grower. Just as important as chilling hours...
I'll see if I can dig it up.

 

[Joe_E]

I think cherry trees need a long cool winter to produce good blossoms, which is probably hard to do in Georgia. I wonder if you could plant it in a location where the ground stays dark and cool in the winter months, but eventually opens up and gets sunny in May?

When i was growing up in the 70's our German lady neighbor had two big cherry trees probably 15 feet tall.
They were absolutely loaded with big juicy cherries. We would sneek in her yard and climb them to pick em.
They seemed to stop producing though, not sure why. Maybe she stopped pruning them.
We had cold winters back then in south jersey too.

 

[Phil in BC]

my cherry tree is just loaded with green fruit just now. Should be ready to pick within the next month or so. Were a zone 4 here tho. I have found that when the nurseries say something doesnt do well in my zone, they tend to be right. Good luck with that.

 

[LC_Hamma]

When i was growing up in the 70's our German lady neighbor had two big cherry trees probably 15 feet tall.
They were absolutely loaded with big juicy cherries. We would sneek in her yard and climb them to pick em.
They seemed to stop producing though, not sure why. Maybe she stopped pruning them.
We had cold winters back then in south jersey too.

When I visited my grandma, during the summers in Ohio, her neighbor had a bing cherry tree. It was prolly 20 ft. & we'd sneak over & snack on 'em. This was in the 70's as well. Last time I was up there I saw the tree was cut down due to ant infestation.