Cherries - when do you pick them?

[Celtigra3]

As a new gardener I planted two cherry trees last winter and I actually have cherries. However, I am not sure when to pick them. One tree has a bout three cherries which are red - do I pick them now or wait?

[Clanad]

Only when they are red and ripened. Green picked cherries will not ripen. This may require several different pickings staggered to select only ripened fruit. Remember, next years cherries are under the fruit you see this (near the base of the cherry stem you are picking) year so don't tear off whole branches or grab a handful and pull the entire branch off. Grasp the cherry stem you intend to pick and twist gently... it'll come right off and leave the branch undamaged for next year. Enjoy!

[Clanad]

Additionally, watch for bird depredation... as soon as the cherries begin ripening they will appear like a magic plague. If your trees are still small enough you may want to invest a little money in some netting to throw over the trees... Best of luck!

[Celtigra3]

Thanks Clanad. However, I don't think I will need the netting as I have seven cats! I am desperate to taste one! Actually I didn't think I would have any for a few years, so it has been a wonderful surprise.

[whiffey]

I was delighted by Clanad's phrase 'bird depredation'

I have a large cherry tree, and year after year it is plucked bare of fruit by pigeons. All you can hear is the awful fluttering of pigeon wings as they gorge themselves. How do you protect a large tree ? Oddly, while this year the tree bloomed prolifically, there was nothing like the normal yield of pigeon food.

Another disadvantage of cherries is the suckers they throw out in all directions, watch out, they can ruin your lawn.

[Clanad]

We have a difficult time growing cherries, Whiffey, due largely to our altitude and harsh winter in the western U.S., but we do have some apple trees that are perhaps 14 feet tall and about the same across the crown. They make a really delightful pinkish jelly so I net them to keep the birds away. I find that, with the help of a front end loader on the tractor I can throw a weighted net across the top 1/3 of the tree... seems that's all that's necessary to keep the Starlings, Sparrows and flocks of Turtle Doves off them... We have friends in the Flathead Valley of Montana though, that grow some of the worlds best Bing Cherries and they net their trees in the same manner... (We'll be there in a few weeks to pick a whole bunch)...

[Celtigra3]

I just love Bing cherries.................can I come?!!!!!