Everything You Need To Know about Bing Cherry Trees

Bing cherry trees are beloved for their firm, heart-shaped, garnet-colored fruit bursting with juicy sweetness. These cherries are a staple in grocery stores, but you can also grow them in your own backyard. Plant a Bing cherry tree alongside a suitable mate, and you can easily harvest more than 50 pounds of cherries per year.

Our guide covers everything you need to know about growing these delicious cherries, from pollination partners to soil conditions.

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Bing Cherry Trees at a Glance

• Dark, sweet cherries high in antioxidants
• Can produce a harvest of more than 50 pounds per year
• Attract pollinators like hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees
• Fragrant white blossoms in spring
• Not self-fertile, requires another cherry tree
• Not drought-tolerant

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Appearance

Bing cherry trees burst into bloom each spring with clusters of fragrant white flowers. Then comes the main attraction—heart-shaped cherries in a deep, purplish red that ripen by mid-summer. Bing cherries have a firm flesh, sweet flavor, and an easily removable pit.

During the summer, Bing cherry trees have a lush canopy of long, dark green leaves with serrated edges. The gracefully arching branches and dense foliage create a rounded silhouette with ample shade. As autumn approaches, the leaves take on a striking golden color. The bark is smooth and reddish, with distinctive corky stripes that add visual interest even when the branches are bare in the winter.

Standard Bing cherry trees grow to be 35 feet tall with a spread of 25 feet. Dwarf Bing cherry trees are 15 feet tall with a spread of 12–15 feet, perfect for smaller yards. They grow at a moderate rate of 13–24 inches per year.

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Bing Cherry Tree Specifications

Before you plant a Bing cherry tree, make sure you have the right climate and enough space. Here’s what you need to know about this variety:

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Hardiness Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones indicate the regions where different plants can grow and thrive based on minimum winter temperatures. Bing cherry trees grow in Zones 5–8, which stretch across most of the United States. They will not do well in areas that experience extreme heat, harsh winters, or high humidity. This includes coastal regions along the southeast Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, the northernmost parts of New England and the Midwest, and the Southwest desert.

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Planting

The best time to plant a Bing cherry tree is in the late fall or early spring. This allows the tree to establish roots before the stress of summer heat or winter cold. Follow these steps:

• Choose an area that receives full sun and has well-drained, sandy soil.
• Pull any weeds and clear away any debris or turfgrass.
• Dig a hole that is roughly 1.5 feet deep and the same width as your tree.
• Place your tree in the hole and backfill the soil, tamping down gently to get rid of any air bubbles.
• Water the area to settle the roots.
• Spread a 2–3 inch layer of mulch to preserve moisture.

Remember that, unlike Stella cherry trees, Bing cherry trees are not self-pollinating. In order to get fruit, you will need to plant a second cherry tree nearby for cross-pollination (within 100 feet for a standard tree or 20 feet for a dwarf variety). Compatible trees include Stella, Van, Sam, Black Tartarian, Ranier, Windsor, and other varieties with the same bloom time.

In the video below, expert contractor Jenn Nawada walks a homeowner through how to plant a Yoshino cherry tree. You can follow the same basic steps to plant a Bing cherry tree—just remember to leave space for a second tree.

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Growing Conditions

Bing cherry trees only have a few requirements to stay healthy and happy in your home orchard.

• Sun and Shade: Bing cherry trees require full sun, or at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day.
• Soil: The ideal soil for growing Bing cherry trees is well-drained and sandy with a pH level of 6-7.
• Watering: If your Bing cherry tree receives at least an inch of rain every 7–10 days during the growing season, you do not need to water it. But if the weather is dry and hot, you should water it once a week for 30 seconds using a slow-trickling garden hose. After that, you should water when the soil becomes dry. Test the soil by pressing your index finger 2 inches into the surrounding soil. If it does not feel moist, it’s time to water.
• Fertilizing: Use a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer once in the spring and again in mid-summer. A balanced fertilizer with an NPK value of 10-10-10 will do well. Make sure to apply the fertilizer 6–8 inches from the trunk.
• Pruning: You should prune when you see dead or diseased branches. To encourage horizontal branch growth, prune once a year in late winter when the tree is dormant.
• Pollinating: Bing cherry trees do not self-pollinate. You will need to purchase and plant a compatible cherry tree in order to harvest fruit. Good options include Black Tartarian, Lapin, Sam, Van, and Rainier.
• Harvesting: While most Bing cherry trees will take 4–7 years to bear fruit after planting, some nurseries carry Bing cherry trees that will fruit the first year. Bing cherries are ready for harvest in mid-June or mid-summer. Cherries don’t ripen off the tree, so it’s a good idea to sample a few to make sure they’re ready before picking them all. The individual fruits may sweeten and ripen at different times, so it could take a week to fully harvest your Bing cherries. You can store Bing cherries at 32 degrees Fahrenheit for 7–10 days in perforated plastic bags. You can also put them in your freezer for longer storage if needed.

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Our Conclusion

Bing cherry trees are a rewarding addition to your garden if you have the space and climate to accommodate them. They offer brilliant spring blossoms, sweet summer cherries, lush fall foliage, and visual interest even in the winter. With proper care and a compatible cross-pollinator, your Bing cherry tree will provide years of enjoyment.

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FAQ About Bing Cherry Trees

Do you need two Bing cherry trees to get fruit?

Yes—Bing cherry trees are not self-pollinating, so you need at least two cherry trees to get fruit. Compatible cherry trees include the Black Tartarian, Rainier, Stella, Sam, and Van.

How long does it take for a Bing cherry tree to bear fruit?

It usually takes 4–7 years for a Bing cherry tree to bear fruit. However, some nurseries sell trees that fruit in the first year.

Where do Bing cherry trees grow?

Bing cherry trees grow in Zones 5–8 in full sun and well-drained, sandy soil.

How big do Bing cherry trees get?

Standard Bing cherry trees get up to 35 feet tall with a spread of 20–25 feet. Dwarf varieties have a maximum height of 15 feet with a spread of 8–12 feet.

Can you eat Bing cherries?

Yes, you can eat Bing cherries—just remember to remove the pit before eating. Bing cherries are one of the most popular sweet cherry varieties and are commonly enjoyed fresh as a snack. They can also be used in pies, jams, desserts, and other culinary creations.

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