How to Grow Sour Cherries in the South in Zones Seven, Eight & Nine
- 1). Choose a site for sour cherry trees, where they'll get full sun and good drainage. Leave plenty of room for cherries, which grow to 20 to 30 feet in height. Consider planting two trees 15 to 18 feet apart for more successful pollination. Sour cherry trees are self-pollinators, but it's better to grow fruit trees in pairs for larger fruit harvests. Try to choose a sheltered spot, where the trees will receive protection from wind during winter.
- 2). Amend the soil at your chosen sites with a combination of half quick-draining soil and half compost. Dig this mixture into the top 2 feet of your garden soil to give cherries the nutrition and drainage they need. Plant cherry seedlings in holes that are slightly deeper than their pots and three times as wide, and fill in around their roots with amended soil. Pat the soil down firmly as you fill it in to remove any air pockets.
- 3). Give the trees 3 inches of water, and stake them for support if they're in vulnerable, windy areas. Give the trees 10-10-10 fertilizer, per the directions on the package, once every two months to help them grow. On a weekly basis give them 3 to 4 inches of water, but only to supplement natural rainfall in zones 7, 8 and 9.
- 4). Mulch cherry trees before winter in these cold areas. Spread 3 to 4 inches of mulch over the soil before the first frost to keep the roots warm and thriving through winter. Remove this mulch layer with the spring thaw.