How to Grow Cherry Fruit | Growing Cherry Trees

Learn everything about How to Grow Cherry Fruit in our informative guide and enjoy a fresh and juicy harvest right in your home!

Growing Cherry Trees in India is the best way to enjoy this tasty and tarty fruit! Check out our detailed guide on How to Grow Cherry Fruit easily!

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What are Cherries?

Cherries are native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. In India, the fruit grows in cold states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, and Kashmir. The tree takes 3-4 years from the planting to start bearing fruits that are red to peach in color with a tarty and sweet flavor.

How to Grow Cherry Fruit?

Growing Cherry Trees is best in cold regions.

From Seeds

You can grow cherries from seeds, but it is a time-consuming process. Get pits from a local nursery and soak them overnight in water. The next morning, dry them in paper towels and plant them in a well-draining potting mix. Mist the growing medium well and make sure it gets bright indirect light. The seeds will germinate in 5-8 weeks.

From Cuttings

Take a 4-6 inches long cutting from a healthy tree right below the node. Snip off lower leaves and plant it in a seed starting mix. Mist well and keep it where it gets bright indirect light. The cutting will bear new growth in 4-6 weeks.

A Tip: It is always best to buy a well-grown plant from a nursery to get fruits soon!

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Growing Requirements of Cherry Fruit

Sunlight

The more sunlight the plant gets, the better it will be for its growth and fruiting. Choose a location where it gets a minimum of 4-6 hours of direct sun daily.

Watering

Water cherries when the topsoil feels a bit dry to the touch. Do not overwater the plant, and ensure the soil is never completely dry.

Soil

Cherry requires well-draining and fertile soil with a pH between 6-7.5. Light sandy to loamy soil is good for the plant’s growth.

Climate

Cherry fruit requires a cold climate to thrive, as it belongs to the USDA hardiness zone of 5-7, whereas the USDA hardiness of India lies somewhere between 10-12. The northern states like Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir offer a suitable climate for their cultivation.

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Taking Care of Cherry Fruit

Fertilizer

Avoid fertilizing the cherry tree with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, as it will stimulate more foliar growth. Use a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10, once every 4-6 weeks during the growth period. Topdressing the soil with compost once a year is also good.

Pruning

Prune the plant to keep it in shape and to increase air circulation. You can lightly trim the plant twice a year to remove dead and broken branches.

Pests and Diseases

Cherry is susceptible to spider mites, thrips, aphids, critters, and fruit flies. Keep them at bay using organic neem oil solutions. Avoid overwatering the plant to keep most of the potential diseases at bay.

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Harvesting Cherry

Depending upon the cultivar, the tree can take 3-4 years to bear fruits. Ripe fruits are firm, red, and juicy. The best way to tell whether the fruits are ready to harvest or not is by tasting them!