Experienced grower's notes on Cherry Tree

I've been growing plants seriously for over fifteen years and Cherry Tree remains a reliable favourite. For anyone starting out: the most critical thing is thinning fruitlets in early summer to improve individual fruit size. Everything else follows from that.

fireblight bacterial disease affecting pears and apples is the challenge that trips up most beginners and some experienced growers too. I've been growing mine in an orchard with mixed varieties for cross-pollination for three seasons now and the results are consistently good. harvest of home-grown fruit with exceptional fresh flavour is what makes it worth coming back to year after year. winter pruning while the tree is dormant is when I show it off — it earns its place fully then.