Growing sour / tart cherry
stone fruit
Pollination
Self-fertile - one tree crops fully.
Growing it
Zones 4-7. Smaller and hardier than sweet cherry, and largely self-pollinating; the pie cherry.
Where sour / tart cherry grows best
Hardy in zones 4-7, and it needs enough winter cold - about 700-1200 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Sour / Tart Cherry needs roughly 700–1200 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does sour / tart cherry grow in?
Sour / Tart Cherry grows in USDA hardiness zones 4-7.
How many chill hours does sour / tart cherry need?
Roughly 700-1200 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Is sour / tart cherry self-pollinating?
Self-fertile — one plant crops on its own. Self-fertile - one tree crops fully.
Which states can grow sour / tart cherry?
Sour / Tart Cherry suits most of Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland and 21 more, and parts of 15 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.