Tart Cherry plant profile
Prunus cerasus
A perennial fruit for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Tart Cherry
Utah State Extension says tart cherries are sold as bare-root or potted plants and are ideally planted in early spring or fall. They bloom later than sweet cherries, so they are less frost-prone.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Tart Cherry in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 7 to 8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 72 to 288 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 4 to 7Find my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: winter injury sunscald, cherry fruit fly, iron deficiency chlorosis, bird damage.
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Tart Cherries in the Garden (Horticulture/Fruit 2018-03pr)
Utah State University Extension. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Growing Cherries in Virginia (422-018)
Virginia Cooperative Extension. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.