Harvesting cherries is all about timing and gentle handling so you can enjoy bowls of glossy sweet fruit just as the weather warms. In cool temperate gardens cherries are one of the great delights of summer, rewarding a little care with generous crops.
How to identify ripe cherries
Cherries are ready to pick when they are fully coloured, plump and tasting sweet. Sample a few first, then begin harvesting once most fruit on the tree matches this stage.
Pick gently and use the right tools
Harvest in the cool of the morning for the firmest fruit. Use scissors or secateurs to cut through the stem of individual cherries. It is time consuming but safer than twisting them off which may damage the fruiting spurs and reduce next year’s crop. Involve the family for a fun fast picking session before birds beat you to it.
Beat the birds to your cherry harvest
Birds love ripe cherries as much as we do. Regular picking as soon as fruit is ready helps reduce losses. Where possible use wildlife friendly netting over smaller trees before fruit colours to protect your crop.
How to store them
Store cherries unwashed in the fridge and enjoy within a few days. Rinse fruit just before eating or cooking so it stays firm and glossy for longer.
How to care for cherry trees after picking
Once the crop is finished give your trees a little post harvest care. Lightly prune to improve airflow, remove dead or crowded branches, then feed, water and spread a 5 to 7 cm layer of The Garden Family Sugar Cane or Weed Block Mulch to keep trees healthy and productive. For more detailed cherry growing advice see Sustainable Gardening Australia’s cherry guide.
