cherry 'Sweetheart'
sweet cherry (syn. Prunus avium Sweetheart)
Cherry 'Sweetheart' is a popular, self-fertile sweet cherry - and the large fruit have a gorgeous flavour. White flowers appear in mid-spring and these are followed by large, sweet dark red cherries (darker than Stella).
This is a late-cropping cultivar, so useful for extending the season. The fruits ripen over a few weeks so you don't get a glut all at once and you can be picking well into September.
The plants we sell are between 1-1.8m (3-6ft) tall and 2-3 years old at the moment and will usually start to produce fruit in their third or fourth year.
If you choose the top worked option, the crown of this small tree has been grafted onto the upright stem of the rootstock at a height of 70cm, which will limit the eventual height. Perfect for a small garden or growing in a large pot with a loam-based (John Innes) compost.
This is a late-cropping cultivar, so useful for extending the season. The fruits ripen over a few weeks so you don't get a glut all at once and you can be picking well into September.
The plants we sell are between 1-1.8m (3-6ft) tall and 2-3 years old at the moment and will usually start to produce fruit in their third or fourth year.
If you choose the top worked option, the crown of this small tree has been grafted onto the upright stem of the rootstock at a height of 70cm, which will limit the eventual height. Perfect for a small garden or growing in a large pot with a loam-based (John Innes) compost.
How to care for cherry Sweetheart:
When planting your cherry tree, prepare a hole up to three times the diameter of its root system. Fork over the base of the pit in readiness, incorporating plenty of organic matter into the backfill and planting hole.
Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out and staked as soon as they arrive. If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting, or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up. Protect from cold, drying winds.
Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring to support growth and fruiting. Lightly prune in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker, to retain an open ‘goblet’ shape and remove any damaged, diseased or broken branches.
Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out and staked as soon as they arrive. If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting, or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up. Protect from cold, drying winds.
Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring to support growth and fruiting. Lightly prune in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker, to retain an open ‘goblet’ shape and remove any damaged, diseased or broken branches.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, but well-drained soil, or general-purpose loam-based potting compost
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This plant is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
