Cherry trees grow about 1 foot each year in good conditions until they reach mature height. Cherry trees take about 7-8 years after planting to reach maturity (for a total age of 8-10 years old).
Young trees purchased at the garden center typically take 3-4 years to start producing fruit. These trees were typically grafted onto 1-2 year-old rootstocks in the nursery, meaning the trees are more like 5 years old when they start fruiting.
Cherry tree growth expectations
Most cherry trees sold in garden centers and planted in orchards are grafted trees. A branch from a known type of cherry tree is cut and grafted onto a different cherry root. This rootstock is usually 1-2 years old before it is grafted. Grafted cherry trees tend to fruit earlier than own-root trees and can fruit only 2-3 years after grafting (meaning they fruit at a total age of 3-5 years).
Cherry tree growth rates per year
Sweet cherry trees grow about 12 inches each year. They may grow only 8-10 inches in poor conditions and may grow more like 14 inches in particularly good conditions.
Sour cherry trees tend to grow a little more slowly than sweet cherries (but also don’t get as big). Sour cherries can be expected to grow more like 8-10 inches per year in average conditions.
Time for cherry trees to start fruiting
Cherry trees don’t start to blossom and produce fruit until they are about five years old. Young trees are typically grafted onto 1-2 year old rootstocks before you purchase them. Once you buy them and get them into the ground, they’ll likely take 3-4 years to start blossoming and setting fruit.
The first few harvests will be sparse. You may even wish to take off the baby fruits on very young trees so that the tree can put all its energy into root growth rather than fruiting. It will take more like 7-8 years after planting for a full mature crop.
Cherry trees planted in orchards are propagated and trained carefully for fruit production. These trees can take as little as 2-3 years in the ground to start fruiting. That said, some orchardists remove the first crop after it sets to allow the trees to put more energy into root development when young. The first cherry crop is therefore harvested from orchards in the third growing season after planting.
“Cherry nurseries are mainly propagated by budding and grafting onto 1–2 year old seedling grown from seed. In order to grow from seed, pits should be planted in the fall (after first being chilled) and seedlings will emerge in the spring. A cherry tree will take three-four years to produce its first crop of fruit and seven years to attain full maturity.”
PennState University, PlantVillage
Tips for growing your cherry tree
Different varieties of cherry trees need different climates, soil, sun, and water levels to thrive. Therefore, make sure you read about the specifics of your kind to see the optimal results. Taking care of these fruit trees properly will mean you’ll see them growing and producing fruit when they should. Not to mention, your cherry tree will provide a larger harvest when you care for it correctly.
Soil for good growth
In general, a cherry tree prefers well-draining, nitrogen-rich, sandy soil. If your current soil is heavy and clay-like, try adding compost or peat moss to make it more cherry tree-friendly. Cherries tend to like soil that is slightly acidic, typically between 6.0 and 7.0.
Watering cherry trees
When you plant the tree, you’ll want to keep the soil moist, but not wet, for the first year. Once you have an established cherry tree (after a couple of years in the ground), it usually receives enough water when it rains. Be sure to water now and then during dry spells, even if your tree is mature.
Sunlight for cherry tree health
Cherry trees prefer full sun, meaning they get sun without obstructions for a long time. They generally desire six to eight hours of sun each day to grow. Cherry trees grown in partial or full shade will grow slowly and may not fruit at all.
Fertility of cherry trees
Most sweet cherry trees require pollination from a cherry tree of another variety to produce fruit. So, if you’re buying a Bing Cherry, it makes sense to also buy a Rainer Cherry at the same time. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a blooming 5-year-old sweet cherry tree that won’t fruit because it’s all alone!
While many sour cherry trees are self-fertile, meaning they transfer pollen on the same cherry blossom or from another one on that plant, they aren’t all that way. So make sure you research if your cherry tree is. Even if it’s self-fertile, you could benefit from having a second cherry tree.
“On their own roots, cherry trees can take 5 to 6 years or more to produce fruit. Pruning can modify tree vigor and increase branch production. However, pruning—and especially dormant heading cuts—tends to delay fruit production in young trees by stimulating vegetative growth. Other factors, such as deep, productive soils or over-fertilization, increase tree vigor and delay the onset of floral initiation.”
Cherry Training Systems, Oregon State University
Pruning cherry trees
Tree pruning consists of removing any dead or diseased branches. Part of pruning is also eliminating the branches that are taking nutrients from the rest of the plant and holding it back from growing to its full potential. In this case, the vertical-growing branches inhibit good air circulation. Ideally, you want to prune cherry trees in the growing season.
While cultivars differ, cherries tend to produce fruiting buds on short, 2-year-old branches, as well as some longer branches that grew in the previous year. Some spurs will bear fruit for a decade, and so the fruiting spurs do not require heavy pruning each year as a grape or apple might. What can help is to reduce the length of long branches by about 1/3 of their length each year in late summer. This will encourage new fruiting branches to form off the side.
Keeping a cherry tree small
While cherry trees are not commonly grown in pots or in small space gardens, it doesn’t mean they can’t be! Start by choosing a dwarf variety. Cherries are naturally vigorous trees, so looking specifically for a dwarf tree is very important if you’d like to keep it small. Summer pruning can also help keep your tree compact. In containers, and in sandy soil, you’ll have to fertilize well on a frequent basis to support fruit production. And if its a sweet cherry cultivar, plant a pollination partner variety nearby to support fruiting.
Leave a Reply