Prunus cerasus Guindoux des Charentes - Tart Cherry Tree

The Organic Guindoux Cherry Tree from Charentes is a variety that produces a medium-sized, kidney-shaped fruit, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter (resembling a bean). Its thin skin is uniformly reddish-black, finely dotted with grey. Its deep red flesh surrounds a round stone that contains an almond, the seed. With its soft, juicy, highly aromatic, slightly sweet and particularly tart pulp when ripe, this Morello cherry has many culinary uses. Harvest throughout July and eat or process the fruits right after picking. Its good cold resistance and its adaptability to all types of soils, except for excessively clayey ones, mean you can grow the Guindoux Cherry Tree in all regions. The fruits of this variety are highly resistant to cherry fruit flies and are rarely attacked by birds.

Prunus cerasus belongs to the Rosaceae family, like the Sweet Cherry tree (Prunus avium). Also known as the Sour Cherry or Tart Cherry, it is native to Asia Minor and has been widely grown in Europe since ancient times. 

The Guindoux Cherry Tree variety is mainly cultivated in the southern region of Charentes. This cherry tree forms a small, semi-erect tree, spreading with age, reaching approximately 4 to 5 metres (13 to 16 feet) high and 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet) wide at maturity, with numerous diverging and trailing branches. Its reddish-brown wood is a characteristic feature of the cherry tree family. Its habit is well-suited for free-form shapes on half-standards or low goblet forms. The deciduous foliage consists of large, alternate, obovate, irregularly toothed, shiny green leaves that take on autumnal shades of brownish-orange. Flowering occurs in the second half of April, before the appearance of the leaves, which generally protects it from frost. The pure white, 2 to 3 cm (1in) diameter flowers are single and grouped in clusters. They can be destroyed by frost from -2 to -3°C. It is a remarkably decorative blossom in spring, particularly rich in nectar and pollen. A hardy tree that can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C, it is suitable for cultivation in all regions, including high altitudes. This variety is self-fertile, so it does not require a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another cherry tree variety nearby will increase the yield.

The Guindoux Cherry offers a harvest that can be more or less abundant depending on the year, and can exhibit alternate bearing, allowing the tree to replenish its reserves. Fruit production becomes optimal after 6 to 7 years. The fruit is attached to the branch by a relatively short petiole, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm (1in) in length. Starting from early July, if the sour cherries are picked when fully ripe, by pulling downwards, the fruits can be harvested without the stone, as it remains attached to the peduncle on the branch. When fully ripe, the juice of the fruits stains hands and clothing. An adult sour cherry tree (between 10 and 20 years old) produces an average of 30 to 50 kilograms of fruit per year. This sour cherry is very juicy, and tangy in flavour and can be enjoyed raw, but its flavours are best revealed when cooked or processed. It is excellent for making clafoutis, cakes, crumbles, or pies, and as an accompaniment to savoury dishes with white meats (turkey, chicken, veal, etc.) or tagines. It is also perfect for making jams, compotes, juices, or preserved in syrup. Not to mention the famous sour cherry eau-de-vie, to be consumed in moderation.

Its content of vitamins A, B, and C, phenolic antioxidants, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, with a significant iron contribution, make the sour cherry a healthy choice. The fruits can only be stored for a few days at room temperature. However, they can be frozen once washed, dried, and pitted or used for canning.

Due to its popular fruits, the sour cherry is perfect in the garden, planted on a lawn, at the back of a flower bed, in an orchard, or in a fruiting hedge. Among a wide range of cherry trees, it is easy to find the variety that best suits one's desires.