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OH and I have been enjoying luscious, juicy cherries this summer so have decided we'd like to get our own tree.   We like the dark cherries best.

Can anyone recommend a good, hardy, tasty variety?    And a rootstock so it doesn't get so tall we can't pick them?

Thanks in advance.

SNAP! Just been looking at purchasing another cherry tree and bought one from this site.. http://www.orangepippintrees.co.uk/cherry-trees

Very good info about varieties etc.
Gisela is roots stock that should produce more  of 'reachable-size' tree..though growing conditions and soil will have influence for the 'finished' size too.

The only cherry that I have got now is Lapins (Cherokee) cherry....nice fruit if I can get it...
Originally it was supposed to be in more of 'dwarf' rootstock but in few years it showed not be quite so  Now its either ladder 'job' or take apple picker and try get surviving cherries down before the birds get the every last one.

How strange. I have only just eaten a few cherries that Galina gave us yesterday and was wondering wether or not to get one. I would like a dark one that I could cook for black forest gateaux

Quote from: shirlton on July 21, 2013, 16:14:47
How strange. I have only just eaten a few cherries that Galina gave us yesterday and was wondering wether or not to get one. I would like a dark one that I could cook for black forest gateaux

True cooking varieties are not that common..morello is the variety most available. Any cherry..particularly those that are said to be 'firm' you can use for cooking (cakes etc) as they will hold the shape and do not go 'mush'. World is you oyster..just pick any that is producing good dark colour when ripe

  http://rvroger.co.uk/index.php?linksource=stockgroup&webpage=cherries&listgroupfile=fruitandnuttrees&parentpagefile=opengroundfruit&season=MAIN&caller=Header   

Thanks goodlife .Have decided on morello. Parkers are doing an offer of 3 fruit trees at £12-50 each.

Cherry pies...mmmm...morello would be perfect for that.
I've been looking at cherry varieties most of the day and there is some 'dual' use varieties available in some nurseries too.
That is good price in Parkers but be careful with the root stocks..those grafted into colt do grow BIG.
Hmm..must have a look at Parkers site myself..

Our cherries are Stella.  Rootstock Colt.  We have a 7ft high fruit cage and the top of the tree sticks out over the top.  Total height just under 4 metres.

Our Cherokee was sold to be with Gisela rootstock..not!, as the tree is good 15ft tall and must have about same width so I think it is Colt that they've got mixed up with.
If the weather stay bit cooler this week...I might start my new project early

Thanks folks.  I shall have to wait for the autumn plant fairs but it's good to go in with an idea of what I need.

I would be very wary of ordering anything from Parkers.  There's a long thread of customer dissatisfaction with quality and after sales service on the GW website.

Lidl adn ALdi normally have Morello's on a dwarfing rootstock of some description in the winter as bare-roots.... they were 4 quid last year adn I got a couple in to go next to the one that I put in last year .... last years one needs some training now and is about 7 feet tall, it was about 5 feet tall when I planted it so it's grown a foot a year.... I'll prolly get another couple this year and that will fill the fence with morelllo's except for wherer the BBQ is going...

Bought stuff from Parkers in the past.  Not convinced they are the best option.  Sometimes if you pay a little more you get a better bargain.

Lidl trees grow well, but they are not always the variety on the label.  So it can be a bit pot luck.

I have a morello cherry love it.   Lovely with ice cream.  It has not got particularly big because branches died off suddenly.   For some reason this year the birds have hardly touched it.

That's me sorted then. Aldi it is.. Have had a couple of their apple trees and they seem to be doing ok