Montmorency Cherry Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on July 12, 2022

Planting instructions

Full sunlight, about six to eight hours of direct exposure daily, is a crucial requirement for any Montmorency cherry tree. Without plenty of sunlight, this plant may show weak growth and will likely fail to produce high-quality cherries in high quantities, as it has the potential to do. The characteristics of the soil in your planting location are equally important. Montmorency cherry trees should grow in loam or sandy soils that allow for drainage. Without proper drainage, the roots of this tree will become too wet, often leading to disease.

Watering and nutrients

Overwatering is one of the worst outcomes for a Montmorency cherry tree. However, while too much water is a significant problem, a lack of moisture can be detrimental as well. Typically, you should water your Montmorency tree about once every week or once every two weeks to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. The fertilization requirements of this tree are easier to meet, as a single yearly feeding in early spring is often enough to produce healthy growth. When fertilizing, you should use a mix that is low in nitrogen, but a balanced fertilizer may work as well.

Pollination

Since the goal of growing a Montmorency cherry tree is to develop healthy fruits, pollination is incredibly important. Fortunately, unlike the many sweet cherry tree varieties, Montmorency cherry trees are easy to pollinate. These trees are self-fertile, which means that you need only one tree to produce fruits, and they typically rely on insects to transfer pollen from the male structures to the female ones. However, as is true for most fruiting trees, having a second tree nearby, allowing for cross-pollination, often leads to a larger harvest.

Pruning

Pruning is essential for your Montmorency cherry tree if you want it to produce fruits at its fullest capacity. During late winter, after the freezing temperatures have passed, use your pruning shears to remove any weak branches or those that have failed to produce cherries in the past season. You should also encourage lateral branches, as these are better able to carry fruits than those that grow at a narrower angle to the trunk. Thinning the canopy helps to ensure that sunlight reaches all the branches, which also encourages better fruiting.

Pests, diseases, and animals

Unfortunately, Montmorency cherry trees can be susceptible to many pests and diseases. Some of these issues will cause damage to the fruits, while others are more likely to affect the foliage. For instance, the cherry fruit fly can cause damage to your tree’s fruits and lay eggs within the fruit. Other pests, like aphids, moths, borers, and beetles, can also harm your tree. Several diseases can also arise in a Montmorency cherry tree, with different forms of rot being some of the most common.

Harvesting

The harvest time for a Montmorency cherry tree usually occurs during the summer months of July or August and will last for about two weeks. The best way to know if your cherries are ready for harvest is by looking at the color. A ripe Montmorency cherry tree will have a deep red color and should be easy to remove from its branch. Remember that these fruits can be quite delicate, so you should use caution when removing them. Using your hands to gently remove individual cherries is the best way to harvest them while keeping them undamaged.

Achieving maximum results

The most vital soil characteristic for a Montmorency cherry tree is drainage. In fact, proper drainage matters more than having a high availability of soil nutrients, which is why this tree often grows well in sandy soils. You should also be sure not to fertilize your Montmorency cherry tree too late in the season. Fertilizing in summer or fall can cause this tree to produce new growth that will die in the winter or cause a weak overall growth habit.

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