Falling cherries ... what's up?

18 years ago

I have a Montmorency cherry tree. It was planted in late summer last year. It has been growing just beautifully. It is about 6 feet tall with healthy looking trunk & foliage.

This spring, it's first in our garden, it gave us a wonderful display of blossoms which in turn covered the tree in young, yellow cherries.

Not long after I noticed some of those cherries had not developed but had turned dark(black) and looked like dried fruit on the end of their stems. Others continued to increase in size and turn orange-red(ripen).

Yesterday while admiring the tree and checking for insects the majority of the fruits fell easily from the branches as I brushed my hand along the branches. The larger, fuller cherries stayed on the tree.

Is this the sign/symptom of something? Lack of nutrition? Too many fruit on on a young tree? Lack of sun? Too much water? Disease?

We have had a very long rainy period with little sun for about 2-3 weeks now with cooler than normal temperatures with lows around 16C(61F) & highs around 23C(73F).

Aside from the falling cherries the tree appears in very good health.

Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your time.

KanuK

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Comments (4)

jellyman
18 years ago
KanuK:

It would be very unusual for a newly planted cherry tree to set and hold cherries the first year, and for most even the second or third year. Long periods of cool, rainy weather can cause cherries to rot, but in your case I would chalk it up to the youth of the tree. Fruitgrowing is a waiting game.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA
kanuk
Original Author
18 years ago
Don
Thanks so much for your response & for informing me that this occurrence can be attributed to the youth of the tree. I wasn't aware of this. Now I will put my cherry pie recipe to the back of the shelf .... for another year ... or 3!!!
I guess I was lucky to have ONE cherry last year(lol) that actually got red ... and was gobbled up by a robin.
KanuK
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goodground
18 years ago
My NorthStar matured cherries in both year 2 and 3 (this year) only to have the birds eat every one. Next year, I will work on trying to taste them. Even if you get past the obstacle of growing healthy fruit, you have to deal with all the critters who try to beat you to them. It's a tough hobby.
kanuk
Original Author
18 years ago
Goodground
Yes it sounds like a hobby that comes with its challenges. I was so proud of that "one cherry" last year!! I was horrified to witness that #$@ robin swallow my prize cherry!! This year they've set up a nest within view of the tree.
I'm beginning to see how easily these cherries can become so precious!! Before moving into this house there was a man who owned a B&B down the street from where I used to live who invited me to pick cherries from his "sour" cherry tree. To my surprise his cherry tree was loaded with cherries like I had never seen before.
The tree was given to him as a gift when he bought the B&B. He admitted to knowing nothing about growing cherry trees and was surprised that it grew so well for him. It was now in cramped quarters between two urban buildings but seemingly happy by the amount of fruit on its branches. Apparently the birds had other things to eat & his guests found the cherries too "tart". Some people have all the luck!!!
I left the B&B that day with two grocery bags full of cherries which made the best pies & tarts I have ever tasted. The day we moved into our house the Montmorency was the first tree I planted.
That was my introduction to the Montmorency cherry. Now I wait for the day I'll be able to enjoy those tasty fruit. Don't get me wrong ... I don't mind sharing with the birds ... but I don't think "they" understand what sharing means.
Tough hobby indeed!!