PRUNUS avium 'Bigarreau Van' (Cherry)

Description: Common name: PRUNUS avium 'Bigarreau Van' (Cherry). Juicy, dark red, nearly black fruits with a sweet, slightly acidic taste. A very productive variety

Uses: A late eating cherry, pick in July

Climate/Position: Best planted in a sunny site, but will tolerate some shade. Cold hardy so suitable for northern regions

Height/Spread: On the rootstock Colt, will get to 4 metres

Soil Requirements: Good well-drained soils, avoid wet situations

Pruning: Remove any dead wood, or crossing branches in summer

Special Requirements: Pick cherries when ripe, the fruit will not ripen further after harvest. Self-sterile so requires cross pollination, another cherry variety needs to be nearby

Additional Interest: Excellent pollinator. Pollination group 3. Flowers are attractive to bees, fruit is attractive to birds