Thinking about adding a cherry tree to your orchard or backyard? Imagine the joy of picking your own juicy, delicious cherries straight from the branch, whether for baking tart cherry pies or savoring sweet cherries fresh off the tree.
Growing a cherry tree in Phoenix is a rewarding journey that requires patience and care, but the payoff is well worth the wait. Learning how long it takes a cherry tree to grow and what influences its success will help you nurture a thriving, fruitful tree for years to come.
What Are Cherry Tree Types?
Before planting trees, you’ll want to decide which cherry varieties best suit your climate and taste preferences. Knowing whether you’re aiming for sweet cherry trees or sour cherry trees makes a difference in both care and expectations.
Sweet Cherry Trees (Prunus Avium)
Sweet cherry trees produce large, juicy, and often dark red fruit best enjoyed fresh. Popular sweet cherry varieties favor climates with mild, dry weather and minimal risk of late frost.
Sour Cherry Trees (Tart Cherry Trees)
Sour cherry trees are prized for their baking quality and robust tolerance of colder temperatures. Sour cherries are a mainstay in pies, jams, and as frozen cherries for year-round use.
How Long Does It Take a Cherry to Grow and Bear Fruit?
Most cherry trees take several years from planting to producing their first fruit. The timeline varies based on the starting method:
From Seed
Starting cherry trees from seeds is a rewarding but slow process that requires cold stratification to break dormancy, often done during the dormant season or in a fridge. Due to genetic variation and cross-pollination, seed-grown trees may exhibit significant differences from their parent trees and other cherry trees of the same variety. Even under ideal conditions, it can take up to ten years for a cherry tree grown from a pit to produce fruit.
Bare Root and Potted Trees
Most gardeners and orchardists begin by planting bare-root or potted cherry trees from trusted nurseries. Bare-root trees, sold while dormant in late winter or early spring, establish quickly in well-draining soil as temperatures rise. Potted trees offer more flexible planting times but may require additional recovery. Young trees typically flower and bear fruit within 3 to 5 years, reaching full production around 7 to 10 years.
Time to Maturity Table
| Tree Type | Years to Fruit | Full Maturity |
| Seed (cherry seeds) | 7–10 | 10+ |
| Bare root/potted | 3–5 | 7–10 |
The Growth Stages of a Cherry Tree
Cherries grow through distinct yearly rhythms:
- Dormant Season (Late Fall–Early Spring). Cherry trees rest, drop their leaves, and the tree’s roots and root systems strengthen, including the development of the taproot and lateral roots.
- Bud Break (Early Spring). With rising temperatures and sufficient chill hours, buds swell and open.
- Flowering (Spring). Trees explode in blossoms. Cross-pollination is vital for sweet cherries, so planting at least two cherry trees of compatible varieties is best for more fruit; sour cherry trees are usually self-fertile.
- Fruit Set. Successful pollination leads to tiny green fruit after flowers fade. This is when the root ball supports new fruiting wood for the season.
- Fruit Development (Late Spring–Mid July). Rapid fruit growth as days lengthen. Each cherry ripens over a few weeks into a fully ripe, often dark red fruit.
- Harvest (Late Spring–Mid-July, Depending on Variety and Location). Pick delicious cherries over a window of a few hours to a few days as the fruit ripens.
- Post-Harvest and Pruning (Late Summer–Late Winter). After cherries fall, prune out damaged branches and old fruiting wood (but avoid heavy pruning cuts during active growth). This stimulates new fruiting wood for next year’s crop.
In the initial years, a cherry tree focuses on root establishment and typically grows only 6–12 inches above ground in the first year.
How Long Do Cherries Take to Ripen?
Once pollinated, most cherry varieties take about 55 to 75 days, or roughly 2 to 2.5 months, for the cherries to develop from green fruit to fully ripe. Harvest readiness is indicated by the color and firmness of the fruit; fully ripe cherries easily come away from the stem and have reached their peak sugar content. Early-maturing cherry varieties are typically harvested in late spring, while others, especially in cooler climates like the Pacific Northwest, ripen by mid-July.
Key Care Factors That Influence Cherry Tree Growth
How fast and well your cherry trees grow depends on meeting these essential needs. To grow cherries successfully, providing the right care from the start is crucial for healthy trees and a bountiful harvest.
Soil and Sunlight
For optimal growth, cherry trees prefer soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. Additionally, cherry trees require a substantial number of chill hours, typically ranging from 700 to 1,000 hours, to produce fruit.
Watering
Consistent moisture is essential, but avoid overwatering, as this can lead to waterlogged roots. Cherry trees require regular watering, especially during their first year after planting, to establish a strong root system.
Fertilizing
Feed your cherry tree with a balanced fertilizer in early spring. Fertilizing cherry trees twice a year helps ensure the best growth and fruit production.
Pruning and Fertilization
Late winter is the ideal time for structural pruning cuts, which involve removing damaged branches or black knot galls to promote vigorous, healthy new growth. Fertilizing mature trees should be done lightly, as over-fertilization may reduce fruit yield and quality.
Pest and Disease Management
Brown spots or rot on fruit may indicate brown rot; therefore, it’s essential to remove infected fruit and prune the tree to improve airflow. Additionally, using bird netting as cherries ripen helps deter hungry wildlife, and monitoring for fruit flies can prevent damage to maturing fruit.
Turn Your Backyard Into a Cherry Haven: Call ArborCraft Tree Service in Phoenix!
Growing cherry trees demands careful preparation and patience. Whether planting bare-root or potted trees, expect to wait three to five years before sweet and sour cherry trees produce their first fruit. Trees grown from seeds take much longer, often up to ten years, and may not inherit the exact qualities of the parent due to natural variation and cross-pollination.
Dreaming of a thriving cherry tree in your yard? ArborCraft Tree Service can make it a reality. Our experts handle everything, from choosing the right tree for your landscape and climate to planting, pruning, and protecting it from pests and disease. With our personalized care, your cherry tree will thrive, grow healthy, and produce beautiful, productive fruit.
Contact ArborCraft today and let us help your tree and your yard flourish.