Dwarf Sour Cherries Biology and Cultivars Dwarf Sour Cherries Prunus cerasus (Sour Cherry) 15 20m (49 65ft) (on own roots) dark or light flesh; dark or red skin Prunus cerasus (Sour Cherry) Dwarf Sour Cherry 2 3m (6 10ft) Less suckering than Mongolian Large, tart fruit dark skin & flesh Improved Mongolian Prunus fruticosa (Mongolian Cherry) 1 3m (3 10ft) spreading; suckering reddish, pea sized, very sour fruit History Individual Dwarf Sour Cherry (U of S Saskatoon, SK) Breeding of the current U of S dwarf sour cherries started in the 1940 s Evans Cherry was released in?? It has been widely available since the late 80 s to early 90 s U of S released SK Carmine Jewel in 1999 U of S released the Romance series (5 cultivars) in 2004 Uses Quality is such that fresh eating is possible cherries (mainly) Jams / Jellies / Syrups Pies / Pie Filling Dried fruit Syrup Juice Chocolate covered (yeah, that s right) Wine Cherry sausage, etc. Dwarf Sour Cherry Product Over the Hill Orchards Biology Shrubs are dwarf on their own roots Fruit Drupe with a single seed (i.e. cherry) Flowers White flowers with long pedicels (stems) Single or in 5 flower clusters On sides of branches on young wood On spurs on older wood 1
Flowering / Pollination Plants flower in mid to late May Open slightly before leaves All flowers open within 1 week of each other Delayed blooming can be an indication of winter injury Self fruitful Self pollinated Bees are necessary for pollen transfer Bees will increase pollination and yields SK Carmine Jewel at the end of flowering, with small fruit (Ferintosh, AB) Dormancy Starts when days shorten and temperatures start to drop below 7 C Develops from the tips of branches inward to the roots Trunks by the ground are last to enter dormancy There should be buds forming at branch tips by the first frost Winter injured Evans cherries (Andrew, AB) Photo by Sharon Faye INSTA POLL WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SOUR CHERRY SURVIVAL? CULTIVARS 2
SK Carmine Jewel Crimson Passion Photos by U of S Domestic Fruit Program Photos by U of S Domestic Fruit Program SK Carmine Jewel Fruit Colour Dark purple skin & flesh Cultivar Comparisons Size (grams) 3.5 Round Small 16 18 4 Round Small Sweeter than SCJ Medium red 4.5 Round Small? Dark red 5 Round Large 20 Crimson Passion Dark red 6 Round Large 22 25 6.5 Elongated Large? SK Carmine Jewel Crimson Passion Bush Height 2.5m / 8ft 1.75m / 5.5ft Cultivar Comparisons Late July early August Late August early Sept August mid August Mid August Some Productivity Good Mid August Least of 6 Late August early Sept Moderate Cultivar Comparisons SK Carmine Jewel Crimson Passion Uses Fresh Fresh eat Juice Pies Excellent fresh Excellent fresh Very good fresh Other Can be over productive needs regular pruning One of most productive Tart flavour Some people think this is the best fresh selection More firm flesh Slightly astringent 1 week later blooming Different genetics 2.5m / 7ft Evans Cherry 3 4m / 10 15ft 3
Evans Bright red? Disk Medium? August Lots Variable Can have winter injury issues SK Carmine Jewel Dark purple skin & flesh 3.5 Round Small 16 18 SK Carmine Jewel Late July early August Fresh 4 Round Small Sweeter than SCJ Late August early Sept Fresh eat Juice Can be overproductive needs regular pruning 4
2.5m / 8ft Medium red 4.5 Round Small? 2.5m / 8ft mid August Some Good Pies One of most productive Tart flavour Dark red 5 Round Large 20 Mid August Excellent fresh Some people think this is the best fresh selection 1.75m / 5.5ft Crimson Passion Dark red 6 Round Large 22 24 Crimson Passion 1.75m / 5.5 ft Mid August Least of 6 Excellent fresh More firm flesh 5
Late August early Sept 6.5 Elongated Large 15 18 Moderate Very good fresh Slightly astringent 1 week later blooming Different genetics MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER+ Blue Honeysuckle?? Day Neutral Strawberry??? Everbearing Strawberry??? June Bearing Strawberry Saskatoon Berry Floricane Raspberry (Summerbearing) Primocane Raspberry (Fall bearing) Sour Cherry Currant / Gooseberry Chokecherry Plum Late May June Late June July SK Carmine Jewel Late July Aug Crimson Passion Late Aug Sept Apple Hazelnuts Grapes Pears Sea Buckthorn Rob Spencer, BSA, MSc, P.Ag. Commercial Horticulture Specialist QUESTIONS??? robert.spencer@gov.ab.ca Alberta Ag Info Centre 310 FARM 6