Olga:

Northstar is a red-fleshed tart cherry (technically called a Morello) that should grow and produce very well in Maryland. I have grown them here, and the trees last about 20 years before bacterial disease catches up with them. But it is still worth it if you like this type of cherry. Northstar is a genetic dwarf that tops out at about 10 feet with minimal pruning.

Tart cherries ripen very early in the season (around mid-June here in Northern Virginia) and because of this early ripening are not troubled by many of the insects and diseases that affect other stone fruits. Except for one -- and that is the cherry fruit fly. You can reduce or eliminate CFF, but only if you remove all the fruit by the end of the season so the larvae do not reach the ground to pupate, and you hoe around the area within the dripline of the tree to expose those few pupae that survive to cold and drying. If you take these cultural measures, you can get by without any spraying. If you do get cherry fruit fly, they will show up as tiny white larvae near the pit, surrounded by black frass.

If you have a lot of birds in your area, particularly mockingbirds, bluejays, and robins, they will enthusiastically share your cherries, but once the trees begin to mature there will still be plenty left.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Hi Olga!

Have you heard of Balaton sour cherry?

IÂm not too experienced.. I only harvested my first sour cherries this year they tasted fine. I do not yet know how Balaton stands up to common diseases.

Regards,
PoseyPlanter

Thank you very much.
Don, I am familiar with CFF. I used to grow sour cherries in the past, but in very different climate. Birds are OK, I can share :). Do you know what is the difference between Northstar and English Morello?
Poseyplanter, thanks. I read about Balaton. Sounds interesting.
I wonder if bush cherries Like Carmine Jewel or Crimson Passion are less succeptable to CFF?
Olga

I've never heard of anyone who actually had one liking bush cherries.

Yes, I know. I kind of agree, I tried them myself some time ago. However I heard that these two new varieties are by far superior and have big fruits that are as good as real cherries. However I wanted to hear opinions of real gardeners, not the nurseries advertisments. I know they are new, so probably not that many people have experience with them yet. I ordered one of them (don't remember now which one, the one with smaller fruits)to plant this fall.
Olga

Olga:

Northstar is an English Morello, as opposed to an Amarelle. The juice is really dark red. The Hungarians, like Balaton, Danube, and Jubileum are reportedly less tart than the tart cherries we are accustomed to here in the USA, and it is suggested that more people find them good to eat right off the tree. Of course, it's all a matter of taste.

I planted Danube and Balaton about 10 years ago, but the deer got them, so I can't give you an informed opinion on them. The bush cherries I have grown here were mostly pit, and would not work in my plunger type pitter, so I took them out. But Carmine Jewel and Crimson Passion, among other newer bush varieties, are advertised as much better in this respect. Not having grown them, I don't know whether they have dark red or yellow flesh. I would choose a small tree over a bush for appearance and productivity, but those are personal preferences.

I can't think of a reason why any cherry variety would have inbred resistance to an insect like cherry fruit fly.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Thank you.
Don, I was not thinking really about inbred resistance, but more about fruiting time. If they produce significantly earlier then regular tart cherry, for example, they can escape FFC. But this was just hope:) My bush cherries, when I used to grow them were mostly pit, as you said, but they were never bothered by FFC.
I actually like when cherries are tart, but have a lot of taste, so sweeter is good if the taste is not compromised. In my books most real sweet cherry varieties taste too plain.
Thanks again, this is very helpful.
Olga