For other fruit trees also called cherries, see Kersen.
Cherries are a group of plants and their fruits are members of the Prunus clan. Cherries do not cover one type only, but there are several, such as P. cerasus, P. avium, and P. emarginata.
Cherries are a very popular tree in Japan and the flowers are called sakura. In the early spring, when cherry blossoms are blooming, people picnic in these tree-lined gardens. In Australia cherries usually mature around Christmas time, while in America and southern Europe in June. Worldwide production is currently three million tons per year. In addition, flowers and cherries are also used as food or beverage decoration. Cherries contain anthocyanin, a red pigment that is good for health because it is an antioxidant. In addition, regular consumption of cherries every day can reduce the amount of uric acid levels in the body, can even cure gout.
Seasons Planting
Cherries have a very short growing season and can grow in temperate climates. Peak season for cherry harvest is in summer.
In Australia and New Zealand, the cherry harvest peak is at the end of December, in southern Europe in June, in North America in June, in Canada from July to mid-August and in England the peak of cherry harvest is on the moon July.
Like most temperate trees, cherry seeds require cold air to grow (tree mechanisms evolve to prevent germination during the fall, which will then produce seedlings that are killed by winter temperatures).
The holes are planted in the fall (after the first becomes cold) and the seeds appear in the spring. A cherry tree will take three to four years to produce the first fruit harvest, and seven years to reach full maturity. Due to the need for cold weather, none of the Prunus family can grow in tropical climates like Indonesia.
Gallery
A bunch of cherries in early May (France)
- White cherry blossoms
- Flowering cherry blossoms
Washington, D.C. Tidal Basin shows cherry blossoms
- Flower cherry plant
