All fruit trees certified virus free with a Limited 3 Year Fruit Tree Warranty. Click here for our FREE FRUIT TREE OFFER. All basic pruning requirements completed before delivery.
Cherry Tree Options Explained
Generic (Colt/G5/Other). Delivered 100-150cm, bush shape, 7-12L pot, 2-3 years old.
Colt Bush Grows to 3.5m .Delivered 150-200 cm, bush shape, 12-15L pot, 2-3 years old.
Colt (Half Standard) Grows to 3.5m. Delivered 150-200 cm, Half Standard (lollipop shape) 12+L pot, 2-3 years old.
Gisela 5, Patio, Grows to 2.5m. Delivered150-200 cm, bush shape, 12-15L pot, 2-3 years old.
Colt Half Standard 180-240cm.Delivered 180-240 cm, Half Standard (lollipop shape) 12-20L pot, 2-4 years old.
Generic. Delivered 100-180cm. Own roots (mature height of around 2.5m) or unknown rootstock.
Hexaploid Colt. Similar to Colt (3.5 metres) just a different rootstock.
F.12.1: Delivered 150-200cm, will grow to 4m +
Prunus Penny Cherry Tree
If you want another bite of the cherry when it comes to harvesting them then the Penny cherry is ideal for you as it matures late in the season. With award-winning (RHS AGM, not an Oscar) firm, large black cherries, this is a good choice for gardens and commercial growers. The cherries are good for desserts, fresh eating, and launching from catapults at the neighbours washing line.
Unfortunately, the attractive white flowers need some romance in the spring as it is not self-fertile and needs another cherry nearby to be pollinated. This is one of those times you 100% want the date turning up with flowers.
Bred for British conditions e.g. will stand there all day watching Strictly Come Dancing and Masterchef through the window.
A compact habit so good for smaller spaces and fruits will last well for a few days and longer if refrigerated.
Considered to have good disease-resistance, so either it has been bred to fight off fungus, battle bacteria, and stand up to viruses, or it just keeps up with its vaccinations.
Skills required to buy this cherry tree: To know the difference between promo code and homo code (What HOMe Owners subscribe to)
Skills required to plant this cherry tree: To know the difference between fruit tree and suit free because you will be feeling cold and wondering why you have no cherry tree planted.
Skills required to prune this cherry tree: To know the difference between trimming and rimming because......because.......because.........you just do.
Type of Cherry: Eating
Picking Period: Very late-season in the UK
Self-Fertile/Not Self Fertile: Not self-fertile, will only bear fruit with a pollination partner from groups 2,3 and 4. Choose from group 3 first.
Group 2: Burcombe, Celeste, Early Red Maraly, Lapins, Merchant, Merton Glory, Nimba, Pacific Red, Tamara, and Waterloo.
Group 3: Athos, Black Oliver, Colney, Hertford, Knight’s Early Black, Penny, Skeena, Summer Sun, and Sweetheart.
Group 4: Amber Heart, Kordia, Stardust, Stella, Sunburst, and Sylvia.
Planting Penny: Plant in clay, loam or sand that is moist and well-draining. Acid, Alkaline or neutral soils and a full sun position. Hardy to minus 15 degrees centigrade and prefers a sheltered spot.
Pruning Penny: Prune in summer after harvest in a multi-day sunny weather window to reduce the risk of silver leaf disease and others (maximum time for the wound to dry out). Remove dead, diseased and crossing branches.
More Information About Penny
Possibly named Penny because it is a good tree to spend a penny behind.
Parentage: Colney x Inga
History: Developed in East Malling, Kent and released in 1998.
IF RISQUE AVERSE, SKIP THIS SECTION
Skills required to buy a Prunus Penny Cherry Tree. To know the difference between "shopping cart" and "shopping cartwheel" because one is retail therapy and the other leads to physiotherapy.
Skills needed to give a Prunus Penny Cherry Tree a new home in the garden. To know the difference between plant and aunt because only one of those is young enough to turn over a new leaf.
Skills required to prune a Prunus Penny Cherry Tree correctly. To know the difference between prune and porn because, despite the title, the "head" gardener on set knows nothing about gardening.
Quick Fruit Tree Links
Take a look at our TOP SELLING FRUIT TREES, Wet ground issues then choose a PEAR TREE first, followed by APPLE TREES. For more information on pollination please look at choosing the CORRECT POLLINATION PARTNER
Fruit Tree Life Expectancy
Most fruit trees will give you AT LEAST 40 years of fruit. Pears can go to 70. Records of 200 year old trees exist but this is the exception, not the rule.
Do I Need To Stake My Bare Root Fruit Tree?
9 out of 10 times the answer will be no, especially if under 200cm tall. However our article on Tree Staking should help guide you.
Climate Change
Climate Change has increased aesthetic foliage issues such as Powdery Mildew, Shothole, Rust, frost damage etc These are not terminal issues and will usually last a season or less. All trees are inspected before being sent out to ensure they are fundamentally healthy and will bounce back.
Planting In The Corner Of A Garden
Air and light is reduced in this location which could promote fungus and bacterial issues. If the corner is of the house and a fence then you also have leeching issues to contend with from cement and wood preservatives. Also when it rains, that area would experience higher water levels so we advise against it unless the plant is very hardy.
Fruit Tree Heights
Taller does not mean more value for money. A 1 year old fruit tree can easily be substantially higher than a 2 year old, this is because they are hard pruned at 1 year old to create the desired shape. Some trees have over 100cm of height removed. They can then have another pruning at 2 years old to increase fruit growing real estate. Most fruit trees will benefit from having a third to half of the seasons new growth cut back in the Autumn to prevent long whippy branches which break easily. Age and pruning completed determine real value.
Cherry Tree Form Options Explained
Bush : This means there are branches that start close to the bottom of the tree.
Patio : Very well suited for container growing on patio (others usually can be too, this one is just better for it)
Maiden : The tree is 1-2 years old.
Half-Standard : The lower branches have been pruned off to give a more conventional "lollipop" tree shape
Bare Root : The Cherry tree is sent between November and March without any soil around the roots and no pot. Generally purchased because they are cheaper.
Cherry Tree Fruit Splitting
Cherries will split because of too much water. When it rains the roots take up water and as the air is humid, does not allow the cherry to "breathe". With container grown cherry trees, you can place an umbrella (we kid you not) over the tree to control watering to a better degree. If you find your garden planted cherry tree regularly has split cherry fruits, consider improving drainage close to the tree e.g. soakaways.
Planting Your Cherry Tree
Dig a hole three times wider than the pot in came in but just as deep. Place your cherry tree in the middle and fill with the remaining soil. If soil quality is in doubt, mix the excavated dirt with well rotted manure or compost to a 50:50 ratio. Water well (1-3 times a week depending on weather) for the next few weeks. Do not add fertilizer to the removed earth as the roots need to be encouraged to spread out. Do not plant if the ground is frozen or waterlogged.
Planting Bare Root Cherry Trees
Soak the Cherry tree roots in a bucket of water for a few hours. Dig a hole wider than the rootball. Make a mound in the middle of the hole to support the centre of the cherry tree rootball whilst allowing you enough room to trail the roots out. The more you can spread them out the better. The previous dirt line on the tree will be evident, the mound needs to be large enough to ensure this is in line with the top of the hole. Placing a piece of straight wood across the whole gives you something to check alignment with. Basically don't plant the Cherry tree any deeper than what it was before it was rudely hauled out of the ground. Fill the voids with the fine earth first, you are aiming to eliminate all or most of the voids. Gently compress to firm the earth but not compact it. Do this in layers around 4-6 inches at a time.
Cherry Tree Aftercare
Add a mulch layer. This is to prevent weeds and grass competing for nutrients within a 1m or 3ft radius around the tree. Use gravel, mulch mats, manure, bark or whatever you want to block the light getting through. Do not use herbicides on or near a young tree.
Before new leaves appear in Spring, apply a Nitrogen/Potassium/Phosphorous fertilizer although they mainly need Nitrogen. Nettle compost soups are a cheap way of achieving this albeit labour intensive.
Container Growing Cherry Trees
One of the biggest problems you will have with container growing cherry trees is lack of water. If the soil is dry around 15cm or 6 inches into the soil it is time to water. We use a soil moisture meter because we are lazy, cautious and love gadgets.
Birds And Cherry Trees
There are many methods of deterring birds from eating your beloved cherry crop from threatening to sue them in bird court for theft to painting each cherry with lemon juice but by far the most effective method is to surround the tree with netting.
