Cherry tree

[tiggerkid]

Hi everyone,

I have a question about cherry trees. Planted a cherry tree about 5 or so years ago. The label said it was self-pollinating, so I bought only one. It has flowered pretty much every year since and has definitely significantly increased in size. However, there are no cherries as every spring they seem to fall off straight after the flowering period. Last year, I got a couple of cherries. This year, I see a couple again but everything else has fallen off. Does this tree require a pollinating partner or is something else an issue?

May need more water at fruit setting time

Even self pollinating trees benefit from having other trees around to encourage pollination. Plenty of water and sunshine are needed too.

I was going to say water too. Cherries (and most fruit) have a critical period for water between just before the blossom opens to when the fruit sets. It may be worth deliberately watering next spring. Also buy a little patio cherry to help with pollination if you can.

But if it's five years old it could be a slow developer. Fruit trees take ages to get going so you might just need to be patient. My cherry is seven years old and I have only had about two good harvests (this year not looking good; probably not enough water as my garden is dry)

Thank you, all. That’s very helpful. Will give it more water next year and might get another cherry tree!

Cherry trees are fickle beasts. The weather needs to be just right to get a crop, and then the birds eat most of them

They need a decent winter otherwise no fruit. They need there not to be frost once the blossoms are out. There needs to be some fine dry not windy days whilst the blossom is out to make sure the bees can pollinate. You need there to be bees in the area. You then need to hope that you don't get any strong winds that blow the cherries off before they are ripe.

We have a big old cherry tree in the garden and I would say we only get fruit every 4 or 5 years. Luckily this is one of them and we are currently harvesting by the bowlful.