Cherry trees are a wonderful addition to any home garden, with their beautiful spring blossoms and delicious summer fruit.

But before you plant one, you should know there are two main categories: sweet cherries and sour cherries. Each type has its own personality and specific needs.

Let’s dig into the details by comparing sour vs. sweet cherry tree care so you can choose the right tree for your yard and enjoy a bountiful harvest.

Understanding the Main Differences

At a glance, sweet and sour cherry trees might seem similar, but they have distinct characteristics that affect their growth and the fruit they produce.

Sweet cherries, like the popular Bing or Rainier varieties, are the ones you typically find fresh at the grocery store. They are perfect for eating right off the tree.

Sour cherries, also known as tart cherries or pie cherries, include varieties like Montmorency and North Star. Their fruit has a much more acidic flavor, which makes them ideal for baking, jams, and preserves.

Climate and Hardiness: A Tale of Two Trees

One of the biggest distinctions between these two types of cherry trees is their climate preference.

Sour cherry trees are generally more resilient and adaptable. They are cold-hardy and will generally thrive in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 6, though some varieties, including Montmorency, can grow in zone 8.

This tolerance for colder temperatures makes them a reliable choice for gardeners in northern regions with harsher winters.

Sweet cherry trees, on the other hand, are a bit more particular about their environment. They prefer milder climates and do best in USDA zones 5 through 7.

They are more susceptible to frost damage in late spring, which can harm their delicate blossoms and reduce the year’s fruit yield. A sudden cold snap after the buds have opened can be devastating for a sweet cherry crop.

Sun and Soil Requirements

Both sweet and sour cherry trees need plenty of sunlight to produce high-quality fruit.

You should select a spot in your garden that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sun each day. Full sun exposure helps the fruit ripen properly and develop its full flavor potential.

Good air circulation is also beneficial, as it helps prevent fungal diseases.

When it comes to soil, both types of trees have similar needs. They flourish in well-drained, fertile soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, typically between 6.0 and 7.0.

Heavy clay soil that retains too much water can lead to root rot, a common problem for cherry trees. Before you plant, it’s a good idea to amend the soil with compost to improve its texture and nutrient content.

Planting and Spacing Your Trees

Proper spacing is another area where sweet and sour cherry trees diverge.

Sour cherry trees are naturally smaller. Standard-sized sour cherry trees usually grow to about 15-20 feet tall and wide.

This more compact size makes them a great fit for smaller yards. You should plant them about 15-20 feet apart to give them enough room to spread.

Sweet cherry trees are much larger.

A standard sweet cherry can reach heights of 30-35 feet with a similar spread. You’ll need to give them plenty of space, with at least 25-30 feet between trees.

If you have limited space, you can look for dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties of both types, which stay much smaller but still produce a generous amount of fruit. Double-check any growing recommendations available from the nursery you get the cherry tree from, because spacing requirements will always vary by variety.

Water and Nutrient Needs

Consistent moisture is vital for the health of any cherry tree, especially during its first few years as it establishes its root system.

Young trees require regular deep watering, about once a week during the growing season, unless you get adequate rainfall. Once established, they become more drought-tolerant but will still produce better fruit with consistent moisture.

Fertilization helps your trees grow strong and produce abundant fruit.

A balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in the early spring is usually sufficient. You can use a formula designed for fruit trees or a general 10-10-10 fertilizer.

Be careful not to over-fertilize, as too much nitrogen can encourage excessive leaf growth at the expense of fruit production.

Pollination: A Critical Distinction

Pollination is perhaps the most crucial difference that new cherry growers need to understand. Most sour cherry varieties, like the Montmorency, are self-fertile.

This means you only need to plant one tree to get a full crop of fruit. The flowers can pollinate themselves, which simplifies the process for home gardeners with limited space.

In contrast, most sweet cherry trees require another tree to produce fruit.

They require a different, compatible cherry variety planted nearby for cross-pollination to occur. Without a suitable partner, your tree will blossom beautifully but will not produce any fruit.

For example, you can browse the many fruit bearing cherry trees online to find the Bada Bing variety.

Pollinating this variety requires planting another sweet cherry tree, such as Bing or Rainier. When you buy a sweet cherry tree, you must also purchase a pollinator variety that blooms at the same time.

Some sweet cherry cultivars, like Stella or Lapins, are self-fertile, so they offer a good alternative if you only have room for one tree.

Pruning for Health and Productivity

Pruning is a necessary task for both sweet and sour cherry trees, but the approach differs slightly.

The goal of pruning is to create an open structure that allows sunlight and air to penetrate the canopy. This promotes fruit ripening and reduces the risk of disease.

Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring when the tree is dormant.

Sour cherry trees are typically pruned to a modified central leader or open center system. Since they fruit on one-year-old wood, your pruning strategy should encourage the continuous production of new shoots.

This involves removing older, less productive wood to make way for new growth.

Sweet cherry trees are almost always trained to a central leader system, which creates a strong, pyramid-like structure. This helps support the heavy fruit load and makes harvesting easier.

With sweet cherries, you focus on removing crossing branches, water sprouts, and any diseased or damaged wood to maintain a healthy and open framework.

Pest and Disease Management

Both types of trees are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases.

Common pests include aphids and the cherry fruit fly. Birds are also a major pest, as they love to eat ripe cherries just as much as you do.

You might need to cover your trees with netting as the fruit begins to ripen to protect your harvest.

Common diseases include brown rot, leaf spot, and powdery mildew. These fungal diseases thrive in damp, humid conditions.

You can reduce the risk of disease through proper pruning for air circulation, good sanitation practices like cleaning up fallen leaves and fruit, and selecting disease-resistant varieties.

This detailed comparison of sour vs. sweet cherry tree care should equip you with the knowledge to grow healthy, productive trees in your own garden. Use the information above to craft the perfect environment for your cherry trees.