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.
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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.
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Hertrford was given the RHS AGM on account of its excellent flavour, but this was rescinded in 2014, primarily because the tree was felt to be too difficult for amateurs to manage.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.
