Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as “stone fruits” because their pits are large seeds or “stones.” When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit “gummosis,” a condition in which the tree’s gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Sweetheart is one of the most recent cherry varieties, it was raised in Canada, British Columbia at the Summerland Research Station, introduced in 1990. The parents of Sweetheart are Van and Newstar.
The fruits of Sweetheart are produced very late in season, ready for eating, on average, in the second week of August. Fruits are of average size. They are red to dark red and have a sweet flavour with an excellent texture. There is a background acidity to the taste which is very pleasant to most people.
This variety reliably produces a large amount of fruit, some seasons the fruits require thinning to avoid branch damage.
Disease resistance is good although mildew can be a problem in some areas.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ likes sunshine. As a fruit tree, ample sunlight for photosynthesis is necessary for its growth and to provide sufficient nutrition to develop fruit. It should be planted in a spot that ensures it can receive at least 6 hours of sunlight, and ideally no less than 8 hours of sunlight.
Temperature
Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ is fairly good at surviving in low temperatures. The temperature it can tolerate ranges from -22 ℃ to 42 ℃. It is also not very picky when it comes to water. It does not need a lot of water and is resistant to both drought and flood.
Watering
You should water sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ and adjust the frequency of watering based on its stage of growth, the local weather, and the condition of the soil. Before budding (in mid-spring), it should be watered once. From mid-spring to just before the fall, it should be watered every month. It needs to be thoroughly watered each time you water it, until the water on the soil surface stops draining away. This will ensure that it has sufficient water for growth.
After watering, remember to loosen the soil and remove any weeds in a timely fashion. Stop watering in the autumn and especially in the winter, otherwise it will suffer from frost damage.
Soil
When planting sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’, you should select a sandy loam soil or loam that is thick, rich in organic matter, and with a slight to medium alkaline pH of 7-8.5. Avoid planting it in a place where salt and alkalis are concentrated. Additionally, make sure that the soil is moist but drains well. It is best not to grow sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ in clay soil.
Fertilizing
Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ likes to be fertilized. A sufficient amount of fertilizer will ensure that it grows healthily and bears fruit. Organic fertilizer is usually used for its base fertilizer. When applying fertilizer, dig a circular trench around the external circumference of the tree crown, at a depth of 38 cm and a width of 28 cm. Apply the fertilizer evenly throughout the trench, then backfill the soil.
Fertilizer should be applied twice a year, the first time prior to blooming, to supply nutrients for the flowers, and the second time when the fruit is growing larger, to supply nutrients for fruit growth and to increase the yield.
Planting Instructions
You can purchase sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ saplings in garden centers. Pay attention to two things before planting. First, choose an area of the garden that has a lower altitude to plant your sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’. This will help it to acquire enough water because its roots are shallow. Additionally, apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting it, mostly organic fertilizer. Once planted, remember to water it soon after, until the water on the surface of the soil stops draining away. When this happens you have provided sufficient water.
We generally do not sow seeds to propagate sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ because the seeds need to undergo post-ripening effects. This means that the seeds are not yet mature when they are harvested. It is only after a period of special treatment that the seeds can complete their biochemical processes and reach the condition of being mature seeds that are able to germinate.
Pruning
Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ sprouts on branches that have strong budding capabilities. However, the branches can easily become overcrowded and need frequent pruning to maintain the shape, air circulation, and light exposure within the tree. This also helps to prevent pests and diseases while at the same time helping the leaves receive more sunlight.
Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ can generate a large amount of fruit without any artificial pollination. Because sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ can produce a large number of flowers with a high yield of fruit, to maintain its growth and the quality of fruit, it is recommended that some flowers and fruit be removed to concentrate the nutrients for the remaining fruit. As a result, there will not be a large amount of fruit, but those left will be of higher quality and have an improved flavor.
Propagation
Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ can be propagated by grafting. Select healthy and strong that have 3-4 fully developed buds for grafting in mid-spring, or directly use buds for grafting in the summer.
Cut a T-shaped opening in the stock, and insert the branch or bud into the cut between its xylem and phloem, while making sure the phloem vessels are in contact with each other. Then, use plastic wrapping to bind them together. After 10-20 days, when the cut has healed and the branch or bud has survived, the plastic wrap can be removed.
Transplanting
Sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ thrives best when transplanted between early to late spring or in late fall. Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil to encourage vibrant growth. Ensure the new location is shielded from strong winds.
III. Harvesting and Storage
The fruits of sweet cherry ‘Sweetheart’ usually ripen in the early fall and can be picked for eating. If the fruit needs to be stored or transported a long distance, it is better to harvest the fruit before it softens, such as during the late summer or early fall. Note that fruit should be handled gently and, ideally, and the twig should remain on the fruit.
