Variety traits

Sweet Cherry Ripening Period

Prunus avium (L.) L.

Classification of sweet cherry cultivars by the onset of harvest maturity, essential for establishing a production schedule and selecting orchard protection strategies.

In the reference 507 varieties crop Sweet cherry, where this is mentioned in the description.

Sweet cherry ripening dates are determined based on phenological observations of the onset of harvest maturity. In breeding and variety testing, a classification consisting of six groups is adopted: from very early (extra-early) to late, which allows the harvesting season to be extended from late May to early August.

Selecting a maturity group is decisive for industrial orchard planning; however, it is important to note that the fruit ripening date does not have a strict correlation with bloom time, which is key when selecting pollinators. Sweet cherries belong to crops whose fruits do not ripen after picking, so the accuracy in determining the readiness point is critical for product quality.

In agronomic practice, cultivars are distributed into maturity groups to minimize risks: early cultivars help avoid the activity of certain pests, while late cultivars often demonstrate greater yield stability during weather fluctuations. Furthermore, maturity groups often correlate with flesh type: delicate 'guigne' types are more common among early cultivars, while firm 'bigarreau' types are found among mid-late and late ones.

General information about the subject — on the page Maturity group.

Sources8

Varieties of Sweet cherry mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.