Essential Tips for Picking Cherries

Whether sweet or sour, cherries are a much sought after fruit. Cherries are filled with flavor and naturally healthy, loaded with Vitamins A,C, E, as well as calcium, potassium, iron, and melatonin.

Know what type of cherries you will be picking: Either sweet or sour cherries. Both types of cherries ripen in the summer. Sweet cherries normally ripen in the middle of June. The most common sweet cherries are Bing and Maraschino. Sweet cherries are commonly eaten by themselves. Sour, or tart cherries normally ripen from mid July through August. Sour cherries include North Star and Montorency. Sour cherries are usually canned or frozen for use in recipes.

Check the cherry tree on a weekly basis to assess when cherries are ready to be picked. Cherries are ready to be picked when they are full in size, glossy and have a bright color. Cherries are ready for picking when the stem separates easily from the pit.

Except for light colored cherries, cherries are best picked when they are darker in color and totally red. Cherries develop more sugar in the last days of harvesting, so check the cherry tree daily and do your cherry picking daily for a week or until all cherries have been picked.

Pick cherries early in the day before the heat sets in.

Leave the stems on when picking cherries. Use a gentle twisting motion to prevent damage to the cherry tree. Choose cherries that are totally red and firm. Remember the darker the cherry, the better the flavor. Cherries bruise easily, which affects the taste and storage time, so handle with care.

Avoid picking cherries that brown, soft or have holes from hungry birds.

After picking cherries, do not wash until ready to use. Store in a plastic bag and refrigerate. Cherries have a short storage time, so go ahead and eat them, freeze them or can within three days of picking.

Whether eating cherries fresh or saving for a cherry pie or other favorite dessert, picking cherries is an enjoyable way to get some sun, exercise and delicious cherries.

Sources:
www.garden.org
www.fingardening.com
www.plants.usa.gov