Rainier Cherry Tree - Blonde, premium flavored cherry (2 years old and 3-4 feet tall.)

It depends on the variety. Lapins, Sweetheart and Montmorency are self-fertile, so one tree bears. Bing, Rainier, Royal Ann, Van, Black Pearl and Black Tartarian need a compatible sweet cherry nearby that blooms at the same time, within about 50 to 100 feet. A self-fertile Lapins or Sweetheart is the simplest partner. Bing, Royal Ann and Lambert can't pollinate each other, and Montmorency, a tart cherry, isn't a dependable partner for sweet cherries.

Our sweet cherries grow to about 10 to 25 feet tall, depending on the variety, and Montmorency to about 15 to 20 feet. This page lists the size for this tree. Rootstock and pruning both affect the final size. Pruning in summer and going light on fertilizer help keep a tree smaller, though the rootstock sets the upper limit.

Check the USDA hardiness zones listed on this page, and look up your zone by ZIP code. Your zone is set by how cold your winters get. Sweet cherries also need plenty of winter chill, the cool hours between about 32 and 45°F. Bing needs about 700. Where winters are mild, ask your county Extension office which cherries fruit there.

Sweet cherries are among the slower fruit trees to start bearing, at about 4 to 7 years from planting. Tart cherries start sooner, at about 3 to 5. If it flowers in the first two years, pick off the flowers so the tree spends its energy on roots and branches.

We recommend planting it in the ground, where the roots have room and stay warmer through winter. A pot can work, but it's best if you have some experience, or don't mind less-than-ideal results while you learn. A tree in a pot needs much more care: more watering, and the nutrients it would otherwise pull from the ground. Every few years, prune the roots and change the soil, or move it up a pot size. Expect more ornamental value than a large harvest: a tree in a pot will fruit, but not as much as one in the ground. In the ground, pick a sunny, well-drained spot. Tart cherries are among the fruit trees most sensitive to wet soil, so skip low spots where water collects.

In wet-winter areas like the Pacific Northwest, prune sweet cherries in dry summer weather, around August, when bacterial canker has less chance to get into fresh cuts. Elsewhere, late winter after the worst cold works.

They can, if they're compatible and bloom at the same time. When we graft, we choose varieties that cross-pollinate. We graft five onto each tree, but sometimes two or three don't take, which can leave a less-than-ideal mix for pollination. Bing, Royal Ann (also called Napoleon) and Lambert can't pollinate each other, and Montmorency isn't a dependable partner for sweet cherries. If your tags show only those, plant a Lapins or Sweetheart nearby. Both are self-fertile and pollinate many sweet cherries that bloom with them.

It depends on when it ships. In the dormant season, while trees rest over winter, it arrives bare root: no leaves, no soil, and roots wrapped in a damp packing mix. That's what a healthy dormant tree looks like. When it's actively growing, the same tree ships potted and in leaf. Our fruit trees ship at about two years old and 3 to 4 feet tall. If the roots are dry or mushy, or anything looks damaged, contact us that day with photos.

Most bare root trees planted in spring show new growth within a few weeks. Some take longer, especially after a cold spring, and a tree planted in fall waits for spring. Fall planting works best where winters are mild, generally zones 7 through 9. Every region has its own climate and microclimates, and cherry varieties vary widely in when they first break bud in spring. To check on your tree, scrape a tiny patch of bark near the top with your thumbnail: green underneath means it's alive. If it's been 45 days since spring planting with no new growth, or 30 to 45 days since other cherry trees in your area leafed out, please contact us.

Keep the roots cool and damp, out of sun and wind, and keep the tree shaded and as cool as possible. Plant within a couple of days if you can. In cold storage at about 37°F, a dormant tree keeps for months without harm, as long as you water the roots now and then. Without cold storage, heel it in for a longer wait: lay it in a shallow trench and cover the roots with soil.