mystery cherry tree

[fruitylou]

Hi, I have just discovered a cherry tree behind my garden covered in cherries, i got all excited and tasted one and it was awful (really sour and dry) should've known as the birds haven't shown interest.... so question is will it make good jam or are some cherries good for nothing?

[Capsid]

It's probably an acid (Morello) cherry which can be used for making jams, preserves, pies etc.

[binley100]

It sounds like my cherries but the blackbirds have been having a feast. How big are the fruit cos the ones on my tree are not as big as the sweet cherries you buy.

[fruitylou]

Thanks for the replies, they are not as big as the ones you can buy, most of them are ripe but i thought it was a little early for cherries, i have picked some and am going to make some jam today, wish me luck!

[bobleponge]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but continuing the cherry theme, I have 3 cherry trees in my front garden, 1 large red one, 1 small red one which has clearly grown from a pip dropped from the big tree, and a big yellow one.

The 2 red ones are absolutely thrashed every year by the birds, this year I didnt get to eat a single red one, but they havent touched the yellow cherries at all. Not a single bird shows any interest, but they are just as sweet and juicy, if not more so, than the red ones.
Why so?

[Suky]

Like the yellow raspberries and white strawberries, perhaps they don't know they are ripe. That is the theory behind the new white strawberries anyway.

[purplekat]

I find the birds tend to have an order of preference for eating fruit - purple/black first, then red, orange, yellow then white

[Graham C]

I'm having a similar dilemma and have just posted a thread with photos to try and find out if mine is indeed a cherry tree. Are the leaves on yours red?

[fruitylou]

so... i took the plunge and made some jam, its lovely if i do say so myself, i am very proud as its the first time i have made jam with no recipe and its the best i have made, i aim to pick more to freeze for pie fillings if i can pysch myself up as it took me over 2 hours to stone the last lot!

[Beanb]

Wine

Here in Italy they boil them and add the strained juice with some sugar to wine. Verrrrry nice.
MORELLO AUSTERA: Produzione vendita amarena di cantiano, visner, vino di visciole, visner amarena, marmellata confettura di amarena, visner amarene, fragoline di bosco, fichi, mele verdi

[sequoia]

Just bought an Amarena cherry tree from the local B and M store for £3.99, going to make some of those delicious cherries in syrup.
Preserving Amarena Cherries « Totally Tuscan Tours
Edit.
It says grows to around 3m, so I have set it on a south facing fence, at 45 deg angle facing west and then has 4m to grow. The only info I can find is that it grows in regions between 4-9 whatever that means? mainly grown in Italy, but also needs a winter chill.
seq

[sequoia]

The Amarena cherries are well known, and are expensive here, the best are in the opaque blue and white jar.
AMARENA CHERRY