I grow sour cherry varieties from the University of Saskatchewan and other than suckering in a lawn setting and pruning they are trouble free. There is Black Knot here on choke cherries, keep the voles away from the base of the trees. They are self fertile.

Wayne, what sour cherry would you suggest of the Sask. varieties? (Leamington, On.) I have room for one. Perhaps I could do two of them, if I keep to all dwarf.

Cherries are no more work than growing any other type of fruit tree. Most fruit tree types will have some sort of (often) recurring issues with diseases and insect pests that will need to be addressed and cherries are no different.

Both the Stella and the Lapins are self-fertile and require no pollination partner, as are all sour cherries. And sour cherries can pollinate sweet cherries, provided the bloom times overlap. And while each of these are considered self-fertile and produce on their own, planting these different varieties does open up cross pollination opportunities and that always results in better and heavier crops.

to be clear.. i had to try before i understood this ... but i eventually figured out that fruit trees werent worth the effort ... unless they are the hobby ...

for good production.. they need annual pruning ... multiple sprayings per season .. and unless you are on top of both of those.. you are never going to get pretty fruit that looks like what you get at the store ...

now if you goal is jellies and jams.. and pies.. and what not.. pretty fruit really isnt all that important ...

on a small suburban lot.. it frankly came down to whether the space could be better used.. for other garden hobbies ...

i also realized... that there were PICK YOUR OWN orchards around.. and if i wanted volume for some reason ... when it all boiled down.. it was cheaper to go buy what i needed ...

again... you should try.. learn for yourself .. and do whatever you want ... but keep in mind the old cost/benefit ratio ... including your time with it all

ken

In my area sweet cherries have to be netted to keep birds off or they get most of the fruit. Whereas with 'Montmorency' - although birds still attend that also - there are enough fruits produced to provide adequate amounts for human use most years.