Description
Black Tartarian opens the cherry season. The fruit ripens in early summer, roughly two weeks before Bing, medium sized and heart shaped and nearly black when ripe, with juicy flesh and a rich, full flavor for fresh eating, jam and preserves.
It is an old variety with a long record. It came out of the Circassia region of Russia, reached England in the 1790s, and for generations it was the pollinator planted beside Bing. It sits in a different incompatibility group from Bing, Lambert and Royal Ann, which is exactly why it serves all three: those three cannot pollinate each other.
Overview
- Early sweet cherry, about two weeks before Bing.
- Dark, juicy, richly sweet, heart-shaped fruit.
- An heirloom from Russia, grown since the 1700s.
- A strong pollinator for Bing, Rainier, Royal Ann and Van.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Prunus avium ‘Black Tartarian’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; deep, well-drained soil
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 5
Chill Requirement: About 700 hours
Rootstock: Mazzard F 12-1
Bearing Age: 2 to 3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 12 to 16 ft tall and wide, easily maintained smaller with pruning
Ripening Time: Early season; June into July
Pollination: Needs a second sweet cherry; Bing, Rainier, Royal Ann, Van and Stella all work
Pests & Diseases: Bacterial canker, brown rot and cherry fruit fly; summer pruning and airflow handle most of it
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Planted as the pollinator for a Bing or a Rainier it earns its spot twice: the main crop sets better, and you pick ripe cherries two weeks earlier.
- Regional Insight: Cherries want a real winter and a dry spell at ripening; where June rain is common, airflow and a crack-resistant variety matter most.
- Explore more cherry trees in our collection: Cherry Trees
