Prunus Cherry Baby - Dwarf Cherry

The Dwarf Cherry tree Cherry Baby is characterized by its dwarf and compact habit, its sparkling spring flowering, and its high productivity. Quick to fruit, from the second year of planting, it offers a harvest of beautiful medium-sized, round cherries, 2 to 2.5 cm (0.8 to 1 in) in diameter, slightly flattened at both ends. Its bright red, shiny skin encloses a dark red, fairly firm, moderately juicy and sweet flesh, with a slight acidity. This mini cherry tree is hardy (down to -20°C), resistant to diseases, requires no pruning, is easy to grow and almost maintenance-free. Self-fertile, it can pollinate itself. In the garden, this variety easily integrates into an edible or ecological hedge, in an orchard, in association with other fruit trees, or as a solitary tree on the lawn.

Prunus cerasus, more commonly known as the Common Cherry tree, belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, and has been present in Europe since the Neolithic period.

The Cherry Baby variety (‘Porthos’) is the result of the cross-breeding between the 'Kerr's Easy Pick' and 'Cacanski Rubin' varieties, obtained by Robert H. Bors in 1999, in Canada, at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. It is part of a very innovative selection of fruit plants, recently introduced under the FRUITALITY ® brand. It forms a semi-erect bush that can reach 2m (78.7 in) in height and 120 cm (47.2 in) in width. Its deciduous foliage is composed of leaves 5 to 6 cm (2 to 2.4 in) long, alternate, obovate, shiny dark green turning orange-brown in autumn. The semi-late flowering occurs between late March and mid-April, before the appearance of leaves, which can leave it exposed to late spring frosts. The pure white, single flowers, 1.5 to 2.5 cm (0.6 to 1 in) in diameter, are grouped in clusters. They can be destroyed by frost from -2 to -3°C (28.4 to 26.6°F), so it is recommended to plant cherry trees in a sheltered position, facing west and protected from cold winds in regions that experience late frosts. However, the very abundant flowering often results in satisfactory fruiting. It has remarkably decorative flowering in spring, particularly nectar-rich. This hardy tree, which can withstand temperatures around -20°C (-4°F), is suitable for cultivation in all regions.  It is said to be self-fertile, the flowers can self-pollinate, it does not therefore need a companion to bear fruit, but the presence of another variety of cherry tree nearby will increase production.

The Cherry Baby tree is a very productive variety, with quick fruiting from around 2 to 3 years, becoming optimal after 5 to 6 years. The abundant, uniform harvest(about 10 to 20 kg of fruit per year) is not very sensitive to alternate bearing, thus offering a regular production each year. The fruit is attached to the branch by a relatively short petiole, 3 to 4 cm (1.2 to 1.6 in) long. The harvest starts around mid-June and extends until mid-July. It is important to pick the fruits only when they are ripe, as they do not ripen further, and with their stems to ensure good storage. Cherries are quite fragile and should be harvested carefully.

Quite juicy and firm, this cherry with sweet and tangy flavours is delicious to eat raw. In cooking, it reveals all its flavours in the preparation of clafoutis, cakes, crumbles or pies, fruit salads, and as an accompaniment to savoury dishes based on white meats (turkey, chicken, veal, duck, etc.). They are also perfect for making jams, syruped fruits, and preserves. Vitamins A, C, and E, phenolic antioxidants, calcium, and copper, with a significant contribution of iron, richness in trace elements and fibres, make cherries a health asset. The fruits can only be stored for a few days in a cool place or in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen once washed, dried, stemmed, and pitted.

Very popular, thanks to its fruits, the cherry tree finds its rightful place in the garden for the pleasure of young and old. Among a very wide range of cherry trees, it is easy to find the variety that best suits one's desires or needs. This Mini cherry tree, Cherry Baby, like the fruit trees in the FRUITALITY ® range (for example: the Goji berry Gojidelys or the Dwarf Fig tree Figality), is also easy to grow, hardy, reliable, and not very susceptible to diseases, while allowing the creation of a fruit selection suitable for small gardens or limited spaces.