Sour Cherry

Prunus cerasus

Recommended varieties

• Montmorency. Tart, bright red, juicy; the classic American pie cherry, defines the flavor of cherry pie, jam, and juice. Self-fertile, no pollinator needed. Zones 4a–7a.
• North Star. Tart, dark red, juicy with rich flavor; pies, preserves, juice. Compact dwarf tree (8-12 ft), self-fertile, very cold-hardy. Zones 4a–6a.

Common diseases

• Brown Rot (fungal). The most damaging stone-fruit disease, causing blossom blight and fruit rot.
• Black Knot (fungal). Fungal disease producing characteristic black warty galls on plum and cherry branches.
• Bacterial Canker (bacterial). Bacterial disease causing limb dieback and gummosis, particularly damaging in wet cool springs.
• Cherry Leaf Spot (fungal). Defoliating fungal disease that weakens trees over consecutive seasons.

Common pests

• Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar). Native weevil that lays eggs in young stone and pome fruit, causing characteristic crescent-shaped scars.
• Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). Invasive vinegar fly that attacks ripening soft fruit, unlike native Drosophila species which target overripe fruit.
• Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cingulata). Native fly whose larvae develop in ripening cherries, the primary fresh-market quality concern.

Grafting and rootstocks

• Montmorency on Mahaleb · standard, 15–20 ft.
• North Star on Mahaleb · dwarf, 8–12 ft.

Companion plants

• tansy (beneficial): Tansy reduces fruit fly pressure on tart cherries and discourages aphids.

Sources

• Michigan State Tart Cherry Production