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Cherries in Midland?
- PBMG
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
By Emmy Ulmschneider, Master Gardener
My first introduction to a Nanking Cherry, Prunus tomentosa, was over twenty years ago when the interest in local, sustainably produced food was just beginning. One of the early growers was Stephen Porter. Growing up in Midland, Stephen knew all the long-time farmers in the area and with him, I visited several of these small self-sustaining family farms. On one farm, I saw cherries, one of my favorite fruits. It has taken me several tries and twenty years, but I now look forward to an abundance of these cherries each spring! To be certain these are not the large, sweet Rainer type cherries one buys at the grocery store, but they have satisfied my craving for cherry jams and jellies, baked goods and fresh tart, cherries.
As the name suggests, Nanking Cherry, also known as Bush Cherry, is native to northern China. Due to their adaptability, they have spread around the world arriving in America in 1882. Initially, there was great interest in developing Nanking Cherry cultivars, but that interest waned over time. It was and is also grown as an ornamental providing beautiful white blossoms in the spring as well as being a good windbreak. Nanking Cherries are a bush reaching about ten feet in height when mature. They are drought, sun, and heat tolerant and adapt to arid conditions once established. They thrive in sandy, alkaline soil, truly tailor made for our West Texas gardens!
Renewed interest in Nanking Cherries has grown and there are now several different cultivars including a white one, Ian White Nanking. Other varieties are locally available but as each plant is a non-standard cultivar, the fruit will vary from plant to plant. Regardless of what variety of Nanking Cherry you end up with, they are not self-fertile which means that you will have to plant two or more plants for cross-pollination.
I grow my Nanking Cherries in three different areas along the east side of my yard, where they receive six to eight hours of sun each day. It took two years for them to produce fruit, but they now produce prolifically. The cherries are initially white and turn a red color as they ripen. Their form and fruit make them a great addition to a backyard habitat. Birds love the fruit, so don’t delay harvesting some for yourself! For a full history and description of how to grow Nanking cherries, see https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/nanking-cherry-in-the-garden
Because the cherries have pits, they will need to be pitted. Most cherry pitters are designed for a larger cherry, but a single handheld pitter can be adapted easily by using a metal or rubber washer to reduce the size of the hole that holds the cherry. Once pitted, turn them into baked or preserved treats. Freeze or dry them to enjoy cherries year-round. For an easy to grow fruit tree that sustains your heart and hunger, try a Nanking Cherry!
If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700. Additional information, and our blog for access to past articles, is available at westtexasgardening.org. Click on “Resources.”
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