Early English Cherry Tree Plant Bare Root Scion Organic

Technical sheet of the Early English Cherry variety

• Fruit flesh color: Slightly pink, juicy, sweet and a little tart
• Average fruit size: Medium size
• Fruit shape: Round, slightly flattened at both poles and divided by a fine purple streak
• Harvest period: June
• Use of fruits:
  • Fresh Consumption: Excellent to eat plain, in fruit salad or as a topping for desserts
  • Transformation: Perfect for making tarts and clafoutis
  • Other Uses: Pastry, pie, preserve, jam, brandy, drying, and freezing
• Soil and exposure requirements: Adaptable to different types of soil (limestone, clayey, sandy, humusy) and requires sun exposure
• Hardiness: Can withstand temperatures down to -20°C, but the flowers are sensitive to spring frosts and are damaged at -2°C
• Pollination: Self-fertile, does not require another cherry tree to bear fruit
• Origin: Old variety introduced in France around 1750, of English origin
• Rootstock:
  • No grafting: Self-fertile, does not require another cherry tree to bear fruit
  • Grafting: To reduce the height of the tree, can be grafted onto a medium vigor tree such as Prunus mahaleb (reduces the height of the tree by 60% and facilitates picking, as well as the speed of fruiting between 4 to 5 years)
• Hardiness and Adaptability: Hardy and can withstand temperatures down to -20°C, suitable for all regions of France
• Production and Maturity: Production reaches its peak after 7 or 8 years. The fruits must be picked at maturity, as they do not develop further after harvest.
• Ease of Cultivation: Self-fertile, does not require another cherry tree in the garden to bear fruit
• Shape and Size: Small tree with a rather upright shape, 4 to 6 m high and 3 m wide
• Pollinator of bigarreaux cherry trees: Constitutes a very good pollinator of bigarreaux cherry trees
• Useful comments: Suitable for all regions of France and can be planted on a lawn, at the bottom of a flowerbed or within an orchard.

Quick read / the essentials on the Early English Cherry tree

The Early English Cherry is an old and early variety , appreciated for its hardiness, self-fertility and abundant production . Originally from England and introduced in France around 1750 , this variety produces juicy and tangy morello-type cherries , ideal for fresh consumption and processing . Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of cherry plants, offers plants rigorously selected to guarantee early production and good profitability .

The Early English Cherry tree is self-fertile , which allows production without the need for pollinators , although the proximity of varieties such as Burlat, Napoléon or Van can improve fruiting. Its early flowering (late March - early April) gives it a commercial advantage, but exposes it to spring frosts , requiring protection in cold areas. Its harvest begins in early June , allowing it to reach the market before later varieties. Buying Early English Cherry plants from an expert guarantees successful planting and optimized production .

English Early cherries are medium-sized, bright red turning dark red when ripe , with tender, sweet and tangy flesh . Their shelf life is limited to 3-5 days after harvest , making them ideal for short supply chains and direct sales . Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of cherry plants, supports producers with technical advice and tailored solutions to ensure a quality harvest and efficient orchard management .

This cherry tree adapts well to temperate climates , but requires well-drained soil rich in organic matter . It tolerates slightly chalky soils, but the addition of amendments can be beneficial to avoid chlorosis. Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of cherry plants, recommends rootstocks such as Prunus mahaleb, MaxMa 14 or Gisela 6 , which influence vigor and fruit set . Buying Early English cherry plants from a specialist ensures uniform growth and profitable production .

Although disease resistant, this variety is susceptible to aphids, scale insects and certain fungal diseases such as brown rot and shot hole . Preventive treatment with Bordeaux mixture , thinning pruning and pest monitoring are essential to maintain a healthy orchard. Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of cherry plants, offers plants selected for their resistance and high productivity .

Introducing the Early English Cherry Tree

The English Early cherry tree is an old variety originating from England, introduced in France around 1750. This variety is distinguished by its precocity, hardiness and self-fertility, which makes it an interesting choice for producers seeking early and regular production. It produces medium-sized morello-type cherries with juicy and tangy flesh, suitable for both fresh consumption and processing.

Origin and general characteristics

The English Early Cherry is one of the oldest varieties of cherry trees cultivated in Europe. Its English origins make it well-adapted to temperate climates, and it quickly established itself in France thanks to its precocity and ability to adapt to various growing conditions. Its tree is vigorous and hardy, able to withstand winter temperatures as low as -20°C, although it is sensitive to spring frosts.

Flowering and pollination

The Early English cherry tree blooms between late March and early April. This early flowering can be an advantage for getting ahead of other varieties, but it also means it is susceptible to spring frosts as low as -2°C. A sheltered location or frost protection may be necessary to preserve flowering.

Unlike many varieties, the Anglaise Hâtive is self-fertile, meaning it does not require another cherry tree to produce fruit. However, the presence of other cherry trees nearby, such as Burlat, Napoleon, Hedelfingen, or Van, can improve production by promoting better pollination.

Fruit maturity and harvest period

English Early is one of the first cherry varieties to be harvested in the season. Fruit ripening begins in early June in the warmest regions and continues until mid-June in other areas. This earliness is a commercial advantage, allowing growers to bring cherries to market before later varieties.

Performance and productivity

The Early English cherry tree offers abundant and regular production. However, the tree reaches its peak yield after about seven years. Without grafting, it can reach a large size, requiring sufficient space for cultivation. For growers wishing to facilitate harvesting and optimize space, it can be grafted onto a rootstock such as Prunus mahaleb, which reduces its height by about 40% and accelerates fruit set, which can begin as early as four or five years.

Fruit quality and conservation

Early English cherries are medium-sized morello cherries with bright red skin that turns dark red when ripe. Their flesh is tender, juicy, sweet, and slightly tart. This combination of flavors makes them ideal for eating fresh, but also for making into jams, tarts, and clafoutis.

In terms of storage, these cherries should be consumed quickly after harvest. They can be stored at room temperature for three days and up to five days in the refrigerator. For longer storage, they can be frozen or canned.

Resistance to diseases and parasites

The English Early Cherry is a relatively resistant variety to common cherry tree diseases. However, it is susceptible to aphid and mealybug attacks, which require regular monitoring. Preventative treatments using black soap or natural oils can be used to limit their impact.

It is also vulnerable to fungal diseases such as brown rot and shot hole. Brown rot causes the flower clusters to dry out and cankers to form on the branches, while shot hole causes brownish spots on the leaves and lesions on the branches. Preventive treatment with Bordeaux mixture, as well as regular pruning to promote leaf aeration, can help limit these diseases.

Adaptation to growing conditions

The Early English Cherry tree adapts to a wide variety of soils, but prefers soils rich in organic matter, well-drained, and slightly acidic to neutral. It can tolerate calcareous soils, but additions of organic matter such as heather soil can be beneficial to prevent chlorosis.

Thanks to its hardiness, it can be grown in all regions of France. However, due to its sensitivity to spring frosts, planting in a well-exposed area, sheltered from cold winds, is recommended.

Drought sensitivity and water management

English Early will tolerate drought well once established, but regular watering is recommended during the first few years after planting, as well as during flowering and fruit formation. Well-drained soil is essential to prevent root asphyxiation and ensure good recovery after planting.

Choosing the rootstock

The rootstock influences the vigor, fruit set, and soil adaptation of the Early English cherry tree. Recommended rootstocks include:

• Prunus mahaleb : Ideal for reducing the size of the tree and accelerating fruit set. It is well suited to dry, chalky soils.
• MaxMa 14 : Semi-dwarfing rootstock that allows good productivity with more controlled tree development.
• Gisela 6 : Rootstock of medium vigor which allows for limiting height and densifying plantations.

The choice of rootstock will depend on production objectives and soil type.

Maintenance and cultural management

Pruning the Early English cherry tree is recommended after harvest to maintain a good balance between growth and fruiting. Thinning pruning helps limit foliage density and prevent disease.

Adding an annual organic amendment, such as compost or well-rotted manure, is beneficial to ensure good growth and regular production.

Mulching around the base of the tree helps retain soil moisture, limit weeds and protect the roots from temperature variations.

Profitability and business prospects

The English Early variety represents an opportunity for growers looking to bring early cherries to market. Its self-fertility is an asset for small orchards or isolated crops. However, its sensitivity to spring frosts can limit its yield in some years, which must be taken into account in risk management.

Its good adaptation to short supply chains and direct sales makes it a popular variety among consumers looking for tasty, old-fashioned cherries. For producers looking to diversify their offerings, Anglaise Hâtive can be combined with later varieties to extend the marketing season.

Conclusion

The English Early Cherry is an old, hardy variety well-adapted to growing conditions in France. Its self-fertility, precocity, and general disease resistance make it an attractive choice for growers looking for an easy-to-grow variety with an early harvest. However, its sensitivity to spring frosts requires strategic planting and, if necessary, protective measures.

With good cultural management and careful monitoring of diseases and pests, this variety can offer stable and profitable production, both for fresh consumption and for processing.

To summarize: Early English Cherry

The Early English Cherry is an old and early variety, ideal for growers looking for a quick harvest and regular production . Its early flowering allows it to be one of the first varieties on the market, although its exposure to spring frosts requires strategic planting. It is self-fertile , but can benefit from the presence of pollinators such as Burlat, Napoleon or Van . Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of cherry plants, provides plants adapted to the requirements of growers.

This cherry tree prefers rich, well-drained soils and tolerates slightly chalky soils . Choosing the right rootstock , such as Prunus mahaleb, MaxMa 14 or Gisela 6 , helps optimize growth and fruit set . Buying Early English Cherry plants from an expert guarantees balanced growth and optimized production .

The Early English Cherry tree is robust, but requires monitoring against certain diseases such as brown rot and shot hole . Regular maintenance pruning and biological protection against aphids and mealybugs help prevent production losses. Arboriverse, a specialist wholesale supplier of cherry plants, supports apple growers with suitable solutions to ensure a healthy and profitable harvest .

With a harvest from the beginning of June , an appreciated taste quality and good profitability in short circuits , the Early English Cherry tree is an excellent choice for French producers . Buying Early English Cherry plants from a specialized supplier guarantees reliable production adapted to the requirements of the early cherry market .