Cherries grow rapidly and often produce fruit in the first or second year. The University of Minnesota fruit breeding program is not currently developing new cherry varieties but has released two varieties in the past. These hardy trees produce good pie cherries.
University of Minnesota Cherry Varieties
Meteor
- Semidwarf (10-14')
- Hardy, vigorous, pie cherry tree with large bright red fruit
- No cross-pollination needed
- Ripens mid-July
- Released in 1952
North Star
- Dwarf tree (7-10')
- Very productive pie cherry
- Bright red deepening to mahogany skin and yellow, juicy, tender flesh
- No cross-pollination needed
- Tree resistant to leaf spot and brown rot
- Ripens early July
- Released in 1950
All University of Minnesota cherry varieties
The University of Minnesota fruit breeding program has released 7 cherry varieties since the research began. Some of the varieties listed below are no longer common or commercially available.
| Variety name | Type | Year released |
|---|---|---|
| Zumbra | cherry-plum | 1920 |
| St. Anthony | cherry-plum | 1923 |
| Nicollet | cherry-plum | 1925 |
| Orient | nanking cherry | 1949 |
| North Star | sour cherry | 1950 |
| Meteor | sour cherry | 1952 |
| Deep Purple | cherry-plum | 1965 |