Sweet
Bing Cherry is the sweet cherry standard that has defined the category since its introduction in 1875. This heirloom cultivar produces large, firm black cherries that thrive in hardiness zones 5, 9 and reach a mature height of 8 feet, making it well-suited for orchards and substantial garden spaces. Eastern Washington's famous cherry harvests built their reputation on this variety's reliability and flavor, though gardeners in humid regions should be aware that heavy rain during harvest can crack the fruit.
240-300 inches apart
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
96in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
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The deliciously large, firm black cherry that eastern Washington is famous for remains the standard by which sweet cherries are judged more than 145 years after its introduction. Its reliability in dry climates, combined with the full-sun requirement and summer bloom time, makes it a workhorse for serious cherry growers. The variety requires cross-pollination with compatible sweet cherry cultivars and needs 700 to 900 chill hours to bloom reliably, so it performs best in regions with cold winters and moderate humidity during fruiting season.
Bing Cherries are eaten fresh off the tree, where their large size and firm flesh make them ideal for snacking. Their sweetness and firm texture also make them excellent for preserving, whether canned whole, pitted for jams, or frozen for winter use. Home gardeners often find them superior for fresh eating compared to pie cherries, though they're versatile enough for any culinary application where sweet cherries are desired.
Plant bare-root Bing Cherry trees in early spring or fall, positioning them where they receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Dig a hole slightly wider than the root system and plant at the same depth it was growing in the nursery. Firm soil around the base and water deeply to settle the soil.
Bing Cherries ripen in mid to late summer, typically 60 to 80 days after bloom, though exact timing depends on your climate zone and local chill hours. Harvest when the fruit is deep black, fully firm, and comes away easily from the stem with a gentle twist. Pick cherries with the stem attached when possible, as this extends their shelf life. In regions prone to rainfall during harvest, pick slightly early rather than risk fruit cracking on the tree.
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“Bing Cherry was introduced in 1875 and has remained the gold standard for sweet cherries ever since. Its rise to prominence is inextricably linked to eastern Washington's agricultural identity, where it became the foundation of the region's cherry industry. The variety's success story is one of proven performance, more than a century and a half of cultivation has only reinforced its status as the benchmark against which all other sweet cherries are measured.”