Sweet cherry
Prunus avium
A fruit, planted at any time of year.
In September: nothing to do. It can be planted now.
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Sweet cherry, month by month
Bar: the usual months. Sprout: this month.
| Sowing, planting or job | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | 2027Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a pot-grown sweet cherry. | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual |
| Plant a bare-root sweet cherry. | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Feed the sweet cherry. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | none | none | none | none | none |
| Mulch the sweet cherry. | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
| Prune the sweet cherry while it is in growth. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | none | none | usual | usual |
| Pick the cherries. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Net the sweet cherry. | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual |
| Protect the sweet cherry from frost. | none | none | none | none | none | none | usual | usual | usual | none | none | none |
What to do, and when
The usual months for a UK garden. Your own plan gives the week.
Planting
Plant a pot-grown sweet cherry at any time of year, 2.7 to 6m apart depending on the rootstock. Strong source: RHS.
Plant a bare-root sweet cherry November to March, 2.7 to 6m apart depending on the rootstock. Strong source: RHS.
Feed the sweet cherry
Mulch the roots with rotted manure or compost, and feed regularly with a general fertiliser.
Usually February to March. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Mulch the sweet cherry
Spread well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, around the tree.
Usually February to May. Strong source: RHS.
Prune the sweet cherry while it is in growth
Prune on a dry day, with dry weather forecast for at least the next two days.
Usually April, and July to August. Strong source: RHS.
Pick the cherries
Usually June to August. Strong source: RHS.
Net the sweet cherry
This protects the fruit from birds.
Usually June to August. Moderate source: Gardeners’ World.
Protect the sweet cherry from frost
If frost is forecast, cover a small tree overnight with fleece or an old bedsheet; uncover by day.
Usually March to May. Strong source: RHS.
What the source words mean
Strong: the RHS page for this plant is among them.Moderate: another trusted UK source, or the RHS on its group.
What not to do
Don’t prune in autumn or winter
Prune stone fruit only in spring or summer, in dry weather, to lower the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker.
October to March. Strong source: RHS.
Every line above names the page it comes from. Where we found no good source for a job, we left it out. Where the name “Sweet cherry” comes from.