How to grow Cherry in Australia
Plant cherries in full sun in deep, free-draining soil, checking whether your variety needs a pollination partner. Water deeply while fruit swells, then ease off, as a sudden soak near ripening splits the fruit.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 15 litres a week, watered every 3 days
- Spacing: 500 cm
- Time to harvest: 1825 days (about 5 years)
- Time to germinate: 1 days
- Soil pH: 6 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | Not suited | Not viable in SEQ. Cherries need a long cold winter, hundreds of chill hours, that the coast never gets. Grow a low chill peach or nectarine instead. |
| Northern Rivers NSW | Not suited | Not reliable. Sweet cherries need 700 or more chill hours, which even the Kyogle and Lismore hinterland never gets. Grow a low chill peach or plum instead. |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | Not suited | Not reliable in Sydney. Sweet cherries need 700 or more chill hours and dislike humidity; Bilpin and Orange are the nearest cherry districts. Low chill Minnie Royal and Royal Lee are a gamble even in the coldest western gardens. Grow a plum or a low chill peach instead. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | June to August | |
| Adelaide & SA | June to August | Plant bare root trees Jun to Aug. Cherries need a cold winter, so they are a crop for the Adelaide Hills and the cooler south east; on the plains choose a low chill variety and expect light crops. |
| Perth & WA | June to August | Plant bare root trees Jun to Aug in the Hills and the south west, where winters are cold enough. On the coastal plain only low chill varieties set fruit, and crops are light. |
| Tasmania | June to August | Plant bare-root Jun to Aug. Tasmania grows the best cherries in Australia - deep chill and clean ripening. |
| Canberra & ACT | June to August | Excellent. Canberra chill suits all sweet and sour cherries. Plant bare root in winter; net against birds. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Cherries are the highest chill stone fruit; impossible in the tropics. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Cherry has the highest chill need of all stone fruit. Impossible in the tropics. |
Varieties
- Stella
- Lapin
- Sunburst
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Cherries are ready when fully coloured, glossy, plump and sweet to taste. Pick with the stalk attached by lifting and twisting to protect the fruiting spur.
Storage
Fridge for up to 1 week. Freeze pitted for months.