Field Evaluation of Cold-hardy Dwarf Sour Cherry Varieties In Northern New Hampshire

Commodities

• Fruits: cherries

Practices

• Crop Production: crop improvement and selection, cropping systems, varieties and cultivars
• Education and Training: demonstration, on-farm/ranch research

Many fruit growers in the northeast rely on a diversity of crops for resilience in production and marketing. Cherries are currently an uncommon crop in the region. New varieties of cherries, however, may be more grower-friendly and attractive to customers, presenting an opportunity for growers to diversify and access new markets.

We will establish a planting of six varieties of dwarf cherries developed at the University of Saskatchewan. These varieties are cold hardy enough to be grown throughout the region, contain high enough levels of sweetness they can be eaten fresh, and can be grown in innovative hedge forms rather than large trees. Their dwarfing habit can allow reduced application of pesticides, easy picking from the ground, and fewer years to fruiting.

We will establish plantings of Wowza, Romeo, Juliet, d'Artagnon, Sweet Thing, and Cutie Pie cherries at our farm in zone 4b, northern New Hampshire. Bare-root seedlings will be planted in a prepared plot. Cherries will be supplied with drip irrigation and mulched to prevent weed competition. Pests and pathogens will be managed with IPM practices, and pruning will be conducted annually.

Each variety will be tracked for growth, health, and fruit production. A consumer preference survey will be performed, and at the end of the project, conclusions will be drawn about the practicalities and potential of each of these new varieties of cherries.

Conclusions will be shared in local and regional meetings, written resources, and on-farm workshops.

Production objectives

Objectives 1-3 will be accomplished through purchasing, planting, maintaining, and monitoring of plants for the duration of the project.

1. How well do new varieties of dwarf sour cherries grow in a cold climate area of the northeastern United States?

2. What are the strengths and vulnerabilities of each variety tested to our environmental conditions, pests,and pathogens?

3. Do the phenology, growth habit, and other traits of these varieties make some more well-suited than others to growing in our region and production systems?

Objectives 4 and 5 will be completed in 2028 and 2029, by quantifying the first years of fruit production and completing a consumer preference survey.

4. How do early crop yields and fruit qualities compare across varieties?

5. How do consumers rate their preferences and willingness to pay for each variety?

Outreach objective

Outreach objective 1 will be accomplished by providing written summaries, hosting an on-farm workshop, and presenting at two different professional meetings.

1. To increase knowledge of dwarf sour cherries in the northeast region among growers and service providers.