The climate in New Zealand…would it be like Zone 8-10 or do you get ’cold’ weather in your Winters? I live in southern California and as you know, we dont get much ’rain’ let alone temperatures below 50* almost all year long. i visited Campbell Town Scotland once and that temperture remained cool and damp most of the year…(I was informed)…and though i always wanted to ’see’ Australia and New Zealand, i never got an invite so i don’t know the climate. a great encouragement to guys like us is to watch videos on Youtube about growing Food Forests!!!!…and those guys amazing success about all types of ideas!!!!!

Early Richmond is early and its a "Richmond-type" which is what Montmorency is - clear juice. In fact its sort of funny how its name basically is "early clear juice" which is exactly what you are asking for! I don't know how much earlier than Monty it is. Cherry grafting is just like apples. Not many places sell rootstock for cherries but Raintree does at least. Scott

Sorry, I should have been more clear. Yoshinos are an ornamental that's very popular around here, as they are the same variety as the original gift trees from Japan that ring the Tidal Basin. I understand that they are more closely related to plums, but (being a snotty American kid that I am) I don't want plums. I want cherries!

Both Montmorency and Surefire have fruited for me in Ohio, and the taste is very similar. I probably couldn't tell the difference. The longer you can let them ripen, the better. I love them fresh, but I really enjoy tart fruit. Also consider the USask Romance series cherries. They were only available in Canada until recently, but many sites now sell some varieties from the this series, especially Carmine Jewel. One advantage of these is their small size (6' tall or less - easier to net). HoneyberryUSA probably has the most from this series. I have several two year old Carmine Jewels, but have not tried the fruit yet.