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The best time to pick tart cherries is when they are fully ripe on the tree, typically from mid-June to early August, depending on your specific variety and local climate.
Tart cherries don’t continue to ripen much after you pick them, so knowing the right moment to harvest is the key to getting that perfect balance of tang and sweetness.
If you’ve been wondering when to pick tart cherries for the best flavor, the short answer is that you should wait until they’ve reached their full color and have a slight give when squeezed gently.
When to pick tart cherries can feel like a guessing game, but there are clear visual and textural cues that make it simple.
In this post, we’ll walk you through all the signs that tell you when to pick tart cherries, plus handy tips for harvesting and storing them so you can enjoy your crop at its peak.
Let’s dig into the sweet details of this tart fruit.
When to Pick Tart Cherries: The Essential Harvest Window
When to pick tart cherries really comes down to understanding their ripening timeline.
Tart cherry varieties like Montmorency and Morello generally reach harvest readiness about 60 to 75 days after full bloom.
1. Watch the Calendar for Your Exact Zone
The general calendar for when to pick tart cherries starts in late June for warmer southern regions.
In cooler northern climates, you might not begin picking until mid-July or even early August.
Your local extension office can give you a precise range for when to pick tart cherries based on your exact growing zone.
A good rule of thumb is to start checking your trees about two weeks after the cherries begin to show a blush of red color.
2. Rely on the Color Test First
The most reliable visual cue for when to pick tart cherries is a deep, uniform red color across the entire fruit.
When to pick tart cherries is not when they’re still bright red with orange or yellow patches, that means they need more time.
A fully ripe tart cherry will be a rich, dark crimson, almost like a ruby, from the stem end all the way to the bottom.
Wait for that complete color change before you even think about harvesting.
3. Feel the Firmness and Slight Softening
When to pick tart cherries also becomes clearer once you start touching them.
A ripe cherry will have a slight give when you press it with your thumb, but it should not feel mushy or squishy.
The skin should be taut and smooth, with no wrinkles, which are a sign of overripeness or dehydration.
If the flesh is still hard and unyielding, it’s not yet time to pick tart cherries from that branch.
4. Taste a Sample for the Real Answer
The absolute best way to confirm when to pick tart cherries is to taste one.
Just pop a cherry off the tree, but make sure it’s fully red first, and bite into it.
A ripe tart cherry will flood your mouth with a bright, acidic tang that is not overly harsh or bitter.
If it tastes too sour and puckering, give it another three to five days.
If you taste a pleasant tartness with a hint of sugar behind it, that’s your definitive signal for when to pick tart cherries.
5. Check the Stem Attachment
When to pick tart cherries gets easier when you see how easily they come off the tree.
Fully ripe tart cherries will release from the stem with almost no resistance when you tug gently.
If you have to pull hard or if the fruit tears away leaving the stem behind, the cherry isn’t ready yet.
This easy separation is a natural sign that the fruit has fully matured and is at its prime for picking.
Factors That Change When to Pick Tart Cherries
Several variables can shift your optimal harvest time, so don’t rely on a fixed date alone.
1. Weather and Sun Exposure
A stretch of hot, sunny days will accelerate ripening, meaning when to pick tart cherries moves earlier than usual.
Conversely, a cool, cloudy spring can delay the fruit, pushing when to pick tart cherries later into August.
Trees in full sun will ripen their cherries faster than those in partial shade, so you may harvest in stages.
2. Tree Age and Crop Load
Younger trees or trees with a very heavy fruit load might ripen their cherries more slowly.
When to pick tart cherries on a heavily laden tree can stretch over a couple of weeks as fruits mature unevenly.
You’ll need to make multiple passes, picking only the fully colored cherries each time you check.
3. Your Intended Use for the Cherries
If you plan to bake pies or make preserves, you generally want to pick tart cherries at the earlier end of the ripe spectrum.
If you prefer a slightly sweeter, milder tart cherry for fresh eating or juice, you can leave them on the tree a few extra days.
This flexibility means your personal taste preference will also influence when to pick tart cherries.
Tips for Picking and Storing Your Tart Cherry Harvest
Once you’ve determined when to pick tart cherries, use these harvesting techniques to protect your fruit.
1. Pick on a Dry, Sunny Morning
Always plan to harvest in the morning after the dew has dried but before the afternoon heat sets in.
This keeps the cherries firm and reduces the chance of bruising or fungal issues during storage.
2. Use Gentle Hands and Shallow Containers
Handle each cherry individually and drop them gently into a wide, shallow basket or tray.
Stacking them too deeply in a bucket can crush the cherries on the bottom, leading to rot.
3. Chill Them Right Away
After you decide when to pick tart cherries and gather your crop, refrigerate them immediately.
Fresh tart cherries will last for up to a week in the fridge if you keep them unwashed and in a perforated bag.
For longer storage, you can freeze the cherries in a single layer on a baking sheet before bagging them.
So, When to Pick Tart Cherries for the Best Flavor?
When to pick tart cherries is a matter of patience and observation, not guesswork.
The perfect time to pick tart cherries is when they show a deep, uniform red color feel slightly soft to the touch taste brightly tart and pull away from the stem easily.
You should start tasting and testing your cherries around 60 to 75 days after bloom, which is typically from late June through early August.
By monitoring the color and firmness every few days, you’ll know exactly when to pick tart cherries from your own backyard tree.
Now you can confidently head outside, check those branches, and decide when to pick tart cherries for the most delicious pies, jams, and snacks.
Happy cherry harvesting.