Bing Cherry for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by John Haryasz | Horticulture Writer and Landscape Designer – last update on August 9, 2022

Planting instructions

While the Bing cherry is easy to care for, it does have a few growing conditions that you’ll need to provide. Most importantly, the Bing cherry tree will grow its best and produce its best harvests when it grows in areas of full direct sunlight, about six hours or more per day. Regarding soil type, the Bing cherry prefers areas that consist of well-draining sandy or sandy loam soils. The pH of the soil should be neutral or slightly acidic.

Watering and nutrients

Typically, it is best to water the Bing cherry tree about once per week, once every 10 days, or once every other week, depending on the weather conditions. However, while regular watering does support healthy fruit development, the Bing cherry is surprisingly well-suited to survive moderate drought conditions. The best way to fertilize your Bing cherry tree is to feed it during the spring and the summer with a fertilizer that has equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Pollination

One challenge when growing a Bing cherry tree with the goal of producing fruits is dealing with pollination. The complicating factor is that this species is not self-fertile, which means you will need to plant a compatible pollinator pair nearby to allow for pollination. There are several types of compatible cherry trees that you can use to ensure your Bing cherry grows the fruits you desire. Among those options are the Montmorency cherry, the Black Tartarian cherry tree, and the Stella cherry tree.

Pruning

It is best to prune your Bing cherry tree during the late winter or the early spring when the plant is still dormant. As always, it is wise to remove any part of the tree that shows signs of disease or is damaged, dead, or crossing another branch. You’ll also want to prune this plant to achieve a shape that is favorable for harvest. Generally, horizontal branches are stronger and better capable of supporting the weight of many fruits.

Pests, diseases, and animals

The unfortunate reality of growing cherry trees, including Bing cherry trees, is that these plants can be somewhat vulnerable to many different pests and diseases. There are many insects, including thrips, mites, aphids, Japanese beetles, and more, that will attack this plant and may feed on the cherries as well. Diseases can be just as concerning for this species, as complications like rot, black knot, leaf spot, canker, and powdery mildew can all be prevalent infection threats.

Harvesting

You should wait until the cherries on your Bing cherry tree are entirely red and have a deep, consistent color before you pluck them from the tree. Typically, this harvest time arrives sometime during the summer months. When the harvest time draws near, you should test a few cherries for sweetness before deciding to harvest all the cherries from your tree. To harvest your cherries, it is best to use a tool, such as shears, to cut them from the branches rather than pulling them off and risking injury to your tree.

Achieving maximum results

If you manage to raise your Bing cherry tree correctly, you’ll receive the reward of an ample harvest. However, it’s not likely that you’re the only one awaiting some tasty cherries. Often birds will be the first to arrive at your tree’s ripe fruits, and they may eat them before you have the chance. As such, you should consider protecting your Bing cherry tree from birds by covering it with netting during fruit development and harvest time.

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