Cherry tree

It’s hard to choose which is the greater benefit of cherry trees: the ruby-red fruit or all that beautiful white blossom. Fortunately, no need to pick. You get both. The blossom appears late in spring. Fruit follows and you should have plenty to pick all through July and August.

• A cherry tree is an investment. You’re unlikely to get fruit the first year, but take care of them and they’ll reward you with fruit ever after.

There are many different varieties of cherry. This one, ‘Regina’, is well suited to growing in pots. It will stay compact, so it’s an excellent option for any type of outdoor space, including balconies and patios. It will do best somewhere sunny.

It’s important to stay on top of the watering. Keep the soil moist. If it dries out too much the fruit can drop before it’s finished growing. Keep an especially close eye in very hot weather.  Make sure excess water can drain from the bottom of the pot. From spring to the end of summer, give your plant a feed every week, to give it the nutrients it needs to make fruit. 

At the end of summer give your tree a good prune to remove any dead growth, keep its size compact and neaten up its shape. A well pruned tree will grow more fruit and look more attractive. 

Did you know?

Young, a town in New South Wales, Australia, is known as ‘the cherry capital of Australia’. Somewhere to holiday if you’re particularly cherry-keen.