In midsummer it is easy to distinguish a sweet cherry tree from a sour cherry tree. However, if there are no fruits hanging on the branches, it is difficult for laypeople to tell whether it is a sweet or sour cherry. Here are the most important differences between the two types of cherries.
What are the differences between sweet and sour cherries?
The differences between sweet and sour cherries lie in growth, leaves, flowers, fruits and care: Sour cherries have thinner branches, smaller leaves, more juicy and sour fruits and are less demanding on location and soil, while sweet cherries grow more vigorously, have larger leaves and sweeter fruits, but are more susceptible to cherry fruit flies.
Differences in growth
The sour cherry has thinner branches and tends to have overhanging branches. The sweet cherry has a stronger growth structure and reaches a greater height. The crown of the sour cherry usually appears rounded to overhanging and that of the sweet cherry is pyramidal to broadly diversified.
Differences in leaves and flowers
The leaves of the sour cherry are smaller than those of the sweet cherry. The flowers look incredibly similar. However, the flowering period of the sweet cherry usually begins earlier than that of the sour cherry.
Differences in fruits
The most differences appear when it comes to the fruits. The fruits of the sour cherry, which ripen and are harvested later than those of the sweet cherry, are:
- smaller
- softer
- juicy
- more acidic (twice the acidity)
- storable for less time
- better to pick without a stem
- better for preserving and cakes
Differences in care, diseases and pests
The sweet cherry is more demanding on the location and soil than the sour cherry. It tolerates rough locations less well. The sour cherry ripens well in lowlands and at high altitudes. A disadvantage of tart cherry is that it is more susceptible to diseases such as Monilia. On the other hand, the sweet cherry is more often attacked by the cherry fruit fly.
The care of the two types of cherries differs in that the cut of the sour cherry is different than that of the sweet cherry. The usually strong growth of the sour cherry should be tamed every year after planting.
Tips & Tricks
Although sweet and sour cherries are very different from each other, they can cross-pollinate. Therefore, it is enough to have a sweet and a sour cherry tree in the garden to get a lot of fruit from both plants.
