dwarf cherry tree

[chilli_grower]

I have just discovered that there is such a thing as a dwarf cherry tree

does anybody know just how tall and bushy these might get?

Any recommended varieties?

As I now possibly have the room for a couple, can they be planted reasonably close to each other????

Thank you

[WendyC]

As with most fruit trees, it is the rootstock that they are grafted on to that determines the size, along with your soil and local growing conditions e.g. Rainfall. Cherries seem to be grafted on to Giselle 5 or Colt. More info here:

http://www.kenmuir.co.uk/image/data/...herriesOPT.pdf

[chilli_grower]

hmmm, I don't get it!!!!

what is 'rootstock'?

I just want a tree that should keep below 6ft...

[veggiechicken]

Most (?all) fruit trees that you buy are grafted onto a "rootstock". A dwarfing rootstock will keep the tree small.
Read more at
Rootstocks for Cherry trees - Gisela 5, Gisela 6 and Colt

[WendyC]

Fruit trees are made up of two parts grafted/grown together. Look at the bottom of a fruit tree - it's the knobbly bit. The top (trunks, branches ) gives you the fruit variety you want. The rootstock (roots) determines the size. Put the two together and theoretically you could have any variety of tree growing to any size you want. A very simplistic view, I know!

[planetologist]

My advice would be not to get it too dwarfing. The previous owner of my house planted a cherry on a dwarfing rootstock. It's about 5 feet tall, is maybe 4 feet in circumference and for produces 15 cherries a year for the last 6 years.

[FB.]

hmmm, I don't get it!!!!

what is 'rootstock'?

I just want a tree that should keep below 6ft...

Virtually all good fruit trees are actually two different trees joined together (grafted) just above ground level.
It guarantees that a whole orchard of thousands of such trees can be effectively identical, unlike seed-grown trees where every seed produces a tree as different from others in the orchard as two humans are from each other. Some tall, some short. Some sweet, some bitter.

Rootstocks achieve several things. They control the growth rate, mature size, fruiting and may contribute to pest and disease resistance, drought resistance, flooding resistance, acid, alkaline or even salty soil.
However, the depth and fertility of the soil have a huge impact on how well a tree grows, as does the amount of rainfall/soil moisture, as does the amount of warmth and sun. The variety grafted to the rootstock also has some effect.
Whether chemical sprays are used also makes a huge difference, since sprays mean the tree doesn't have to expend energy fighting pests and diseases. Some varieties have more disease resistance than others.

Here's a topic about some fruit trees which I had grafted, which I posted a while back:
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ees_79924.html

But personally, I am not a fan of growing cherries because the birds will take them all a week or two before they are ripe - unless you net the tree.
I would also caution against cherries in wetter areas because they can suffer from canker and generally not be happy.
Cherries do best when grown on large rootstocks in a mild, sunny climate and a fast-draining dryish soil. They grow and crop very well in Cambridgeshire and nearby counties and many can be found as street trees in and around Cambridge - just walk down the road in June-July and you can pick as many cherries as you want because there are so many that even the birds and wasps can't eat them all.
Many of the 'Merton' series of cherry varieties were developed here.

Keepers Nursery have a guide to fruit tree rootstocks and their sizes:
Keepers Nursery

However, more dwarfing rootstocks will be fussier if they are to reach their potential (pay special attention to the comments such as: Requirements Good fertile soil. Ground should be cleared of weeds and grass), while more vigorous rootstocks will be less fussy about soil fertility or other plants such as grass intercepting their rainfall and nutrients. Dwarf trees in dry infertile soil with grass and weeds under their canopy won't survive long, let alone manage to grow or produce fruit.

[WendyC]

Much more comprehensive answer than mine!

[veggiechicken]

Much more comprehensive answer than mine!

And mine!!
Since I live near Chilli grower, I can tell him that the birds around here are cherry vultures. I have never had more than a handful of cherries off my 2 trees. They are difficult to net too

[chilli_grower]

absolutely fascinating. Thank you all for the very detailed replies.

I had no idea this was even possible.

In my opinion this does 'appear' to cheat nature though.

I just watched a youtube video on how this is done. Amazing really...

I will give the cherry tree some thought...

Thanks all...

[FB.]

In my opinion this does 'appear' to cheat nature though.

Yes, it does cheat nature. But if we didn't, desirable varieties would die when the original tree died - and even while the tree was alive there would only be one tree's worth of (say) Conference pears or Cox's apples to feed a nation, so we'd have to find some other second-rate fruit to chew on.

Humans have been interfering with nature for millennia - breeding animals (often inbreeding to keep the breed pure), breeding plants, spraying chemicals on their crops, and more recently transplanting organs or blood transfusion - and a recent study showed half of all Brits had taken a prescription medication within the two weeks prior to the survey.

[ioan]

absolutely fascinating. Thank you all for the very detailed replies.

I had no idea this was even possible.

In my opinion this does 'appear' to cheat nature though.

I just watched a youtube video on how this is done. Amazing really...

I will give the cherry tree some thought...

Thanks all...

Hi
we can't cheat really cos nature lets us succeed or fail.
It will have the last word.
kind regards
ioan

[Zelenina]

Where I live is also sunny with well-drained soil, and there are plenty of cherries for us and the birds and wasps. The trees are often old and very big, so people pick the low down ones, then the medium high ones by climbing up or using a ladder if they really want more, and the high up ones are left to whatever wildlife wants them. Keeping maggots out of them is a bigger problem.

Another complication to think about, chilli_grower, is that most cherry varieties can't pollinate themselves, and they won't let any old cherry tree pollinate them either. So if you're planting two you need to make sure that either they are compatible pollinators, or they are self-pollinating varieties. (There are a few).

I wonder is that the reason Planetologist's dwarf tree doesn't have much fruit. Does it have many blossoms? Maybe it needs some compatible company.

[catgirl]

I bought a dwarf cherry tree (variety Sunburst on rootstock Gisella 5) in the winter a year and a half ago. I just let it grow last year and it looks a lot more like a tree now but is still only about 6-7ft high to the top of the branches (but then I did trim them quite a lot as recommended by others). I'm guessing it won't grow much taller so perfect height for me! I'm hoping it will start to give me some fruit this year as it's now 2 years old. Will let you know how I get on. :-)

[veggiechicken]

Just bought a dwarf "Sunburst" cherry tree (and a couple of dwarf peaches) from Homebargains £4.99. Look very healthy but I've no idea what the rootstock is.
Don't go to Newport Rd for them CG, as there are only sour cherries left