[garden]cherry bushes

[auntnuts]

I have a few questions for anyone who can help....................

A few years ago, I ordered cherry bushes from Burgess, they are growing beautifully, and this year are LOADED with cherries.

I am trying to figure out what to do with the cherries......(I know I

shoulda figgered it out BEFORE the cherries came due).......

Anyway......the cherries are good flavored but tart. They are also small which would seem to make pitting a very difficult thing.......

My questions are...has anyone else grown these?.............and does anyone have ideas for using them?


Thanks in advance....

 

[Para36]

I planted a dozen of these bushes some 10 years ago in an out of the way location next to a red rasberry plot. I got them mail order ( forget where ) and although I lost a couple . the rest have thrived. They were called sand cherries. As mentioned , the cherries are small and the pits relatively large. I have only eaten them fresh and although tart I look forward to them each year as a special treat. They ripen about the same time as our mulberries and I always associate them together.

 

[sssarawolf]

nanking Cherries

Hello,
We make jam out of ours, i use a Food strainer to get the pits out,
Very good jam & jellies from these.

 

[ShepInTheValley]

Cherry Bushes

Thanks to you guys, I'm planning on ordering some of these. My plan is to make jam & can cherry concentrate for juice, etc.

 

[gonefishin]

Just planted mine this year

I bought 2 of these this year and planted them immediately. They are leafed out and growing pretty well. How tall will these get?
Another question... How long will it take before I get cherries?
Mine were dwarf sweet cherries... Is yours like the sand plums? I planted sand plums as well this year
Can't wait till I can eat some

 

[sssarawolf]

Bush Cherries

We planted Nanking Bush cherries & ours are 6 ft tall with a ton of cherries on them, we got some on them the next summer after we planted , not as big a friut as a more mature bush.

 

[auntnuts]

Thank you for all the relplies. I can't wait to try jam from them.
I thinkI might order more of the bushes.

Sara.which type of strainer do you use?

 

[sssarawolf]

Strainer

I have a Back To Basics Food strainer & Sauce maker
works wonderfully.

 

[Mushroom]

Auntie,

You might also consider making cherry leather, apple/cherry juice, cherry pie, dried cherry chunks, cherry cobler, etc. Might also want to invest in a Foley food mill and a cherry pitter. Inexpensive gadgets but real timesavers. Happy pitting.

Mushroom

 

[Was Cath]

Hi Auntie!

I agree with all of the comments above. We use a pitter with good success. Have you thought about making a cherry liquor with them? Add 1 cup of pitted cherries to 4 cups cheap vodka and about a 1/4 cup of sugar. Shake once per week for 3 months and enjoy! delcious and beautiful!



--Cath

P.S. As we discussed in Chat: Here's a link for purple basil:
https://www.reneesgarden.com/seeds/packpg/herbs/basil-scented-p.htm


I highly recommend their seeds, we've had great luck and they have such interesting species. I've found stuff there that I've not seen elsewhere. We always have some of the "baby gourmet lettuce mix" growing.

 

[Gingergirl]

Was Cath

Be sure to add a few pits to the vodka too.

 

[sssarawolf]

Purple Basil

Wow great seed site. Thanks from me to

 

[Was Cath]

GingerGirl:

Why pits?

I've never tried that before, what's the advantage?

 

[Gingergirl]

The once secret recipe for cherry herring included a few pits. It gave a very subtle difference to the flavor. I like it. If you try it, let me know what you think.