Cherry 'May Duke'
sour cherry (syn. Prunus avium May Duke)
'May Duke' is a versatile variety, perfect for both cooking and eating fresh, making it the best dual-purpose cherry commercially...
bare root | Colt root stock | 1.2m tall
£34.99
available to order from autumn
9 litre pot | Colt root stock | 1.2m
£49.99
available to order from summer
1
Plant description
'May Duke' is a versatile variety, perfect for both cooking and eating fresh, making it the best dual-purpose cherry commercially available. This self-fertile tree is an excellent pollinator for other varieties, and it comes highly recommended for small spaces where you can enjoy the delights of both white, springtime blossom, and an early July harvest. The cherries have a sweet, tangy flavour when fully ripe.
Pollination information: Though partially self-fertile, this cherry will produce a bigger crop if planted with another variety of cherry nearby. Ideally this should come from the same pollination group 3, however it is possible to use one from group 2 or 4 as well.
Pollination information: Though partially self-fertile, this cherry will produce a bigger crop if planted with another variety of cherry nearby. Ideally this should come from the same pollination group 3, however it is possible to use one from group 2 or 4 as well.
Eventual height & spread
Flowering period
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Plant features
Position
Full sun
Rate of growth
Fast-growing
Soil
Humus-rich, moist, well-drained acid soil or ericaceous compost
Hardiness
Fully hardy
How to care for cherry May Duke:
When planting your cherry tree, prepare a hole up to three times the diameter of its root system. Fork over the base of the pit in readiness, incorporating plenty of organic matter into the backfill and planting hole. Avoiding frozen and waterlogged soil, trees should be planted out and staked as soon as they arrive. If you've ordered a bare root tree, soak the roots in a bucket of water for half an hour prior to planting, or if this is not possible, they can be heeled in temporarily, covering their roots with soil, or potted up. Protect from cold, drying winds. Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring to support growth and fruiting. Lightly prune in summer to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker, to retain an open ‘goblet’ shape and remove any damaged, diseased or broken branches.
Please note:
This tree is deciduous so it will lose all its leaves in autumn, then fresh new foliage appears again each spring.
