How to Grow Cherry

Updated June 2026

A cool-season fruit for the home garden across the warmer US.

What it looks like as it grows

Cherry is a rewarding cool-season crop for backyard growers.

When to plant

Cherry is a cool-season crop. In the South and Southwest, plant in fall through winter when the heat eases. See your region on the cherry page for exact timing.

Varieties

Barbados Cherry (Acerola), Heat-loving substitute for the deep South (Florida nurseries)

How to grow it

Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
Spacing: about 16.4 ft between plants.
Sowing: sow about 12 in deep.
Water: roughly 4 gal per plant every 3 days in hot weather.

Pests & problems

Watch for Birds, Cherry slug and Aphids. In humid regions, Brown rot, Bacterial canker and Silver leaf can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.

Harvest

Cherry is usually ready to harvest within roughly 24 months once established. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.

When to plant in your region

Pick your region to see exactly when to plant cherry where you garden.

See what to plant this month

Pick your region for a month-by-month calendar tuned to your climate.

Find your region →