The Cherry Tree Explained

The cherry (Prunus avium for the sweet cherry) is a temperate stone-fruit tree of the rose family that is grown in the cool hills of India, chiefly in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, and valued for its pink-white spring blossom and its small, glossy red fruit. The cherry tree produces one of the earliest fruits of the Himalayan summer, with the harvest arriving in late May and June before most other hill fruits.

India has both cultivated cherry orchards and wild Himalayan cherry trees, and the two are quite different: the orchard cherry is grown for its fruit, while the wild Himalayan cherry (Prunus cerasoides) is famed for flowers that open in autumn. This article explains what a cherry tree is, where cherries grow in India, the common varieties, how orchards are managed, the challenges of the crop and the many uses of the fruit.

Key Takeaways

• The cherry is a temperate stone-fruit tree of the family Rosaceae, and the sweet cherry (Prunus avium) is the main fruit type grown in India.
• Commercial cherry orchards in India are concentrated in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir and in the hills of Himachal Pradesh.
• Cherry fruit ripens in late May to June, making it one of the first fresh fruits of the Himalayan summer.
• Cherry fruit is perishable and splits easily in rain near harvest, so growers harvest by hand and move the crop to market quickly.
• The wild Himalayan cherry (Prunus cerasoides) flowers in autumn and is celebrated each November in Shillong, Meghalaya, during a cherry blossom festival.
• Cherry fruit is a drupe, which means that it has a single hard stone inside a fleshy, juicy covering.

What is a cherry tree?

A cherry tree is a deciduous tree of the genus Prunus, in the rose family, grown for its small fleshy fruit, its blossom or both. The genus Prunus also includes the plum, peach, apricot and almond, and these trees share a similar flower and a fruit that carries a single hard stone.

Two species are important for fruit. The sweet cherry, Prunus avium, produces the sweet red or yellow cherries sold fresh in markets, and the sour or tart cherry, Prunus cerasus, produces more acidic fruit used mainly for cooking, juice and preserves. Both originate in the temperate zones of Europe and western Asia. Ornamental flowering cherries, such as the Japanese sakura, belong to other Prunus species and are grown mainly for their flowers rather than their fruit.

The fruit of a cherry is a drupe, a fruit with a thin skin, a juicy middle layer and a hard stone that encloses the seed. Cherry trees bloom in spring in clusters of white or pale pink flowers, and the fruit forms within a few weeks, making the cherry one of the quickest tree fruits to ripen after flowering.

Where are cherries grown in India?

Cherries are grown in India mainly in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir and in parts of Himachal Pradesh, with some cultivation in Uttarakhand and in a few high-altitude areas of the north-east. The crop is concentrated in hill districts where winters are cold enough to give the trees adequate chilling.

In Kashmir, cherry orchards are found around Srinagar, Ganderbal, Budgam, Shopian, Pulwama and other districts of the valley, where the fruit has been grown for a long time, and the Kashmir cherry season is a well-known event in local markets. In Himachal Pradesh, cherries are grown in parts of Shimla, Kullu, Kinnaur and neighbouring districts. The total area and production of cherries are far smaller than those of apples, and exact figures vary by year, so current state horticulture data should be consulted for numbers. The crop is nevertheless valuable because it brings high prices early in the season.

Why do cherries need cold winters?

Cherries need cold winters because the tree must accumulate a certain number of chilling hours below about 7 degrees Celsius to break dormancy and flower evenly. Without sufficient cold, buds open late or irregularly and the crop is poor. This is why cherries are confined to the mid and higher hills in India and are not grown commercially in the plains.

What are the main varieties of cherry grown in India?

The main cherry varieties in India include the traditional Kashmiri types Double (also called Mishri), Makhmali and Italian, along with introduced varieties such as Stella, Bing and Lambert. Varieties differ in fruit colour, size, firmness and ripening date, and growers choose them according to altitude and market demand.

Because many sweet cherry varieties cannot pollinate themselves, orchards often mix compatible varieties, and self-fertile types such as Stella are valued for simplifying this task.

What does the cherry orchard calendar look like?

The cherry orchard calendar begins with winter dormancy and pruning, moves to blossom in March and April, and ends with a short and busy harvest in late May and June. The compact season is one of the reasons why the cherry is a high-value but high-risk crop.

• Winter (December to February): Trees are dormant. Orchardists prune lightly, manure the soil and accumulate chilling hours.
• Spring blossom (March to April): Trees flower profusely. Bees pollinate the blossom, and growers hope for calm, dry weather without frost.
• Fruit development (April to May): The fruit grows quickly and changes from green to yellow to red. Netting may be used to keep birds away.
• Harvest (late May to June): Fruit is hand-picked with the stalks attached, graded and packed in shallow boxes to avoid bruising.
• After harvest: Trees are fed, pruned and treated for pests while they store energy for the next year.

How is the cherry pollinated?

The cherry is pollinated mainly by bees, because most sweet cherry varieties are self-incompatible and need pollen from another compatible variety that flowers at the same time. Orchards therefore combine two or more varieties, or plant self-fertile types, to make sure that flowers set fruit.

Cherry blossom opens early in the year, when the weather can still be cold and unsettled, and bees fly less in cool or wet conditions. A spell of rain or frost during bloom can reduce the crop sharply. For this reason many growers place beehives in or near the orchard during flowering, and they avoid spraying insecticides while the trees are in blossom.

What problems do cherry growers face?

Cherry growers face a short harvest window, rain damage, bird attacks and the fragility of the fruit, and these problems make cherries among the most demanding of hill fruits. A good crop can be ruined by a few days of rain at the wrong time.

• Fruit cracking: Rain close to harvest causes the ripe fruit to absorb water and split, making it unsellable.
• Spring frost and hail: Frost can kill open flowers, and hail can damage young fruit.
• Birds: Birds such as bulbuls and starlings eat ripe cherries, so growers use netting or scare devices.
• Short shelf life: Cherries spoil quickly at ordinary temperature, and fruit needs rapid transport and, ideally, cold chains.
• Pests and diseases: Cherry fruit fly, aphids and fungal problems such as brown rot can affect yield and quality.

Rain-protection covers, improved packaging, better roads and cold storage have helped some orchardists reduce losses.

Which cherry blossoms in autumn in India?

The wild Himalayan cherry, Prunus cerasoides, blossoms in autumn in India, typically in October to December, with pink flowers on bare branches. This is different from the orchard cherry, which flowers in spring, and it gives the Himalayan and north-eastern hills a rare autumn flowering display.

The wild Himalayan cherry is native to the Himalaya and the hills of the north-east and grows across a wide altitude range. In Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh it is known by local names such as padam, and it holds a place in traditional customs and folk practices. In Shillong, Meghalaya, the trees bloom in November and are celebrated in an annual cherry blossom festival that attracts visitors. The flowers also provide nectar for bees and birds at a time when few other trees are in bloom, which gives the species ecological value beyond its beauty.

How is the cherry different from the Japanese sakura?

The cherry grown for fruit differs from the Japanese sakura mainly in purpose and species, because sakura trees are ornamental flowering cherries bred for blossom and bear little useful fruit. Both belong to the genus Prunus and share a similar flower shape, which is why they are often confused.

What are the uses of the cherry?

The cherry is used mainly as a fresh dessert fruit, and it is also made into jam, juice, syrup, dried fruit and glace cherries for baking and confectionery. Sour cherries are more often cooked or preserved, while sweet cherries are eaten fresh.

Cherries contain vitamin C, fibre and natural plant compounds called anthocyanins that give the fruit its colour, and they are a pleasant part of a varied diet. The hard stones can be removed and discarded or crushed for craft use, and cherry wood is a fine-grained timber used for furniture and small items. Cherry orchards also support local tourism, as visitors come to see the blossom in spring and to buy fresh fruit during the season.

How are cherries picked, stored and sold?

Cherries are picked by hand with the stalk attached, packed in shallow boxes and sold within days, because the fruit is delicate and loses quality quickly after harvest. Picking is done at full colour, since cherries do not ripen further once they are taken off the tree.

Careful handling matters at every step. Pickers place fruit gently in small containers to avoid bruising, and the cherries are then sorted by size and colour. Shallow trays or boxes keep the weight on the lower layers low, which prevents crushing. In the Kashmir Valley, much of the crop is carried by road to Srinagar and to markets in northern India, and the quality of the road link and the availability of refrigerated transport strongly affect the price a grower receives.

• Picking: Choose firm, fully coloured fruit with fresh green stalks.
• Cooling: Move fruit to a cool place as soon as possible after harvest.
• Storage: Keep unwashed cherries in a refrigerator and wash them only before eating.
• Use: Eat within a few days, or turn surplus fruit into jam, syrup or dried cherries.

Because the season is so short, cherry growers often depend on a few weeks of sales for most of their yearly income from the crop, which explains why careful timing and quick transport are central to the business.

Bottom Line

The cherry is a small, early and valuable hill fruit of Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, grown on cool slopes and harvested in a short season. Its delicate fruit and sensitivity to weather make the crop demanding, while the wild Himalayan cherry adds autumn blossom to the Indian hills.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are cherries grown in India?

Cherries are grown in India mainly in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir and in the hills of Himachal Pradesh, with smaller areas in Uttarakhand. They need cold winters and thrive at roughly 1,500 to 2,500 metres above sea level.

When is the cherry season in India?

The cherry season in India runs from about late May to June, with the exact dates depending on variety and altitude. Cherries are among the earliest fresh fruits of the Himalayan summer, and the harvest window is short.

Can a cherry tree grow in the plains of India?

A cherry tree generally cannot produce good fruit in the plains of India because the winters are not cold enough to meet its chilling requirement. Commercial cherry growing is therefore limited to the cool hills of the Himalaya.

Why do cherries crack in the rain?

Cherries crack in the rain because ripe fruit absorbs water through its skin faster than the skin can stretch, and the flesh splits. Rain close to harvest can therefore ruin a crop, which is why some growers use rain covers and pick quickly when showers are forecast.

What is the pink cherry blossom seen in Shillong?

The pink blossom seen in Shillong comes from the wild Himalayan cherry, Prunus cerasoides, which flowers in autumn, typically in November. The trees line roads and gardens in Meghalaya, and the display is celebrated in an annual cherry blossom festival.

What is the difference between sweet cherry and sour cherry?

The sweet cherry, Prunus avium, produces sweet fruit that is eaten fresh, while the sour cherry, Prunus cerasus, produces tart fruit used mostly for cooking, juice and preserves. Both belong to the rose family and have a single hard stone, but they differ in taste, tree habit and use.

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