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Hertford

  • Picking season: Late
  • Country of origin: United Kingdom
  • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

Hertford is an English "black" cherry, although in practice the cherriers are usually a dark red colour. It ripens mid-season and has an excellent flavour.

Prunus avium

Hertford cherry trees for sale

  • 1-year maiden bare-root tree 24.45€
    Gisela 5 rootstock
    Medium size (2.5m-3m after 10 years)
Next deliveries

Deliveries resume December 2020

How to grow

Hertford is not particularly easy to grow, and cropping can be unreliable. It is however quite resistant to rain-induced fruit-splitting.

Herford is not self-fertile, and is best planted alongside one of the Canadian self-fertile varieties such as Stella, Lapins, or Sunburst - all of which are in flower at about the same time.

History

Hertford was raised by the John Innes Research Station in the UK. It was part of a breeding programme in the 1950s for bacterial canker resistance, which included Merchant and Colney.

Hertrford was given the RHS AGM on account of its excellent flavour, but this was rescinded in 2014, primarily because the tree was felt to be too difficult for amateurs to manage. However if you are prepared to put up with its inconsistent cropping, it remains one of the best-flavoured English cherries.

Hertford characteristics

  • Picking seasonLate
  • CroppingGood
  • Keeping1-3 days
  • Fruit persistenceNormal ripening
  • Useful forEating fresh
  • Gardening skillExperienced
  • Self-fertilityNot self-fertile
  • Flowering group3
  • Pollinating othersAverage
  • VigourAverage vigour
  • Bearing regularityRegular
  • Bacterial cankerSome resistance
  • Disease resistanceGood
  • Climate typeTemperate climatesMild damp climates
  • Summer average maximum temperaturesCool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)
  • Country of originUnited Kingdom
  • Period of origin1950 - 1999
  • Flower colourWhite
  • Fruit colourBlackRed / Black
  • Fruit sizeAverage