edenhana

Cherry

Needs a genuine winter chill to crop well, which is why Central Otago is New Zealand's premier commercial cherry-growing region, and it can struggle in the mildest northern areas. Birds are the single biggest practical challenge for home growers, a crop can be stripped within days of ripening, so netting the tree is essentially non-negotiable rather than optional. Many varieties aren't fully self-fertile and crop far better with a second, compatible variety planted nearby; check pollination requirements before choosing a variety. Ripening fruit can split if heavy rain falls just before harvest.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
500cm
Harvest
Ready in about 4-5 years
Difficulty
advanced
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
20-40kg per mature tree per season
Cost to grow
~$30 NZD
Grocery value
~$160 NZD
Mature height
5m
Flowering season
Sep, Oct
Evergreen
No, deciduous
Common diseases
Bacterial canker, Brown rot
Common pests
Birds, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: June-July.

Growing stages

  1. Planting & establishmentBare-root, winter (June-August)

    • Check whether the chosen variety is self-fertile or needs a second, compatible variety nearby for good pollination
    • Plant bare-root while dormant, in full sun with good airflow
    • Water regularly through the first couple of summers while the root system establishes

  2. Early growthFirst 1-2 years

    • Prune to an open shape in the first couple of winters to let light into the canopy
    • Start planning for bird netting well before the first crop ripens, this is the main challenge with home-grown cherries
    • First proper crop is usually 4-5 years away

  3. Flowering & fruiting

    • Cherry blossom opens in a fairly narrow window, so a cold, wet spell right at flowering can limit how much bees are out pollinating, and how well fruit sets
    • Ripening fruit can split if heavy rain falls just before harvest
    • Net the entire tree as fruit begins to colour, birds can strip an unprotected crop within days

  4. Maturity

    • Established trees yield 20-40kg of fruit per season, once netting is in place to protect it
    • Bacterial canker can affect branches, particularly in cooler, wetter conditions; prune out and destroy affected wood
    • Pick by taste and colour rather than size, cherries don't continue ripening once picked

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