Cherry (Prunus) Sweetheart® Half Standard Colt

Sweetheart rounds off the cherry season in style, cropping into late August after most other varieties have finished. Bred at the Summerland research station in Canada, it holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit and is self-fertile, so a single tree gives a heavy crop on its own. Its large, glossy, dark red cherries are firm and sweet with a refreshing hint of tang, and they ripen gradually over about two weeks rather than all at once, so there's fresh fruit to pick for longer. Its white blossom opens late, which helps it avoid spring frosts and makes it a draw for bees. Sweetheart is also an excellent pollinator for other cherries, including self-sterile varieties such as Penny.

This half standard has a clear trunk of around 1.2m beneath a well-branched crown. It grows into a classic freestanding orchard-style tree of around 4–4.5m on Colt rootstock, with room to mow or plant beneath, which suits lawns, larger gardens and small orchards. Plant in full sun in a sheltered spot away from frost pockets, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, and stake firmly for the first few years. Sweetheart can set more fruit than it can support, so prune in summer after harvest to keep a balance of new and older wood, and thin heavy clusters if needed. Summer pruning also reduces the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker. Net against birds as the fruit ripens where you can. Fully hardy (RHS H6). The fruit is delicious, but the stones and leaves shouldn't be eaten, so keep those out of reach of children and pets.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.