A Cherry is a Cherry... 

Or Perhaps Not

All commercial cherry trees start off as a rootstock- usually mahaleb -St. Lucia variety in our area – and are then grafted with the required cherry wood (see photo) during winter. Spring brings them to life and the first two years are critical for survival, frequent watering, bug control  and babysitting essential.

1 Year old Graft

2 year old Merchant variety

In Australia, our first fruit ripens early November through to later varieties in January. It is amazing that from North Young to Wombat is 15 kilometres and Wombat fruit ripens two weeks later!!!

We choose different varieties of cherries to extend the season to suit the markets and tastes of the consumers. “White” cherries are available, such as Napoleon and Vega –mostly used in food production-coming back in popularity it is a pity so many trees were pulled out for other varieties.

“Sour” cherries very popular in Europe for cooking are ready in late November. Morello are the best known. We have planted some this year and expect limited fruit in two years time!

New varieties are coming out every year, mainly from America and Canada in search of the perfect cherry. Young’s Rons Seedling (Rons) are still a hugely popular cherry because of its dark red/black colour, large size, good flavour and relatively robust growing characteristics. We have over 2500 Ron trees for you. Our varieties include

Early Varieties; Supremes, Early Burlat, Empress

                      ; Eagles , then Merchant

Mid-Season   ; Ron’s, Van’s, Vista, Sunburst, Bing, Stella, Chelan, Black Star

                      ; Lapins, Margarets

Late Season   ; Black Douglas

Also Napoleon if I can remember where I grafted them! We’ll know in a few years time

It usually takes 3 years to start bearing fruit

                       7 years to maturity

                       10-25 years life expectancy-longer if well maintained.