When to plant cherry trees in Brookings and Gold Beach, OR

Plant cherry trees in Brookings and Gold Beach Mar 25 – May 20.

Tricky here Plant bare-root or potted trees

Difficulty: Tricky here
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 15 to 20 feet apart (8 to 10 feet on dwarf rootstock)
Planting depth: Graft union 2 to 3 inches above the soil
Frost: Hardy perennial; comes back every year
First harvest: First cherries in three to five years

Why these dates

Brookings and Gold Beach's typical last spring frost is January 31. On the coast, the soil is usually ready for cherry trees around March 25.

Coast. Mild winters but cool, foggy summers. Frost is rarely the problem; warmth is. Pick early, cool-tolerant varieties of tomatoes and squash.

How to grow cherry trees in Brookings and Gold Beach

Pick a sunny spot with soil that drains well, and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant cherry trees Mar 25 – May 20, 15 to 20 feet apart (8 to 10 feet on dwarf rootstock). Graft union 2 to 3 inches above the soil.
Choose a dwarfing rootstock like Gisela so you can net the tree. Water deeply through the first two summers, and prune in summer during dry weather to reduce canker.
Harvest: Pick sweet cherries when they're fully colored and taste sweet; they don't ripen after picking. Keep the stems on for longer storage.

Key numbers

3–5Years to fruit
Gisela, 8–10 ft apartDwarf rootstock
Lapins, StellaSelf-fertile picks
Rain cracking, birdsBiggest risk

Growing notes

What makes the difference in Northwest gardens, in plain language.

Choosing a variety and rootstock

Sweet cherries on standard rootstock grow into big trees that are impossible to net, so most backyard growers choose a dwarfing Gisela rootstock. These trees stay small enough to cover with bird netting and fruit sooner. They do need good soil, steady water and usually a stake.

Self-fertile varieties like Lapins and Stella fruit on their own and can also pollinate Rainier, which needs a partner. Sour cherries such as Montmorency are self-fertile, bloom later, resist cracking and make the best pies, which makes them a reliable choice for rainy west-side gardens.

East vs west of the Cascades

Cherries love the dry, sunny summers east of the Cascades, which is why the region's commercial orchards are there. West of the mountains, a rainy spell near harvest lets ripe cherries absorb water through their skins until they split. Crack-resistant varieties like Lapins help, as does a tree small enough to cover with a tarp before rain.

Bacterial canker is also more common on the wet side. It shows up as oozing gum and dying branches in spring. Prune only in dry summer weather, never in winter.

Pests and harvest

Birds are the biggest cherry thief. Net the whole tree just as fruit starts to color, and tuck the netting closed underneath. Cherry fruit fly and spotted wing drosophila lay eggs in ripening fruit; picking promptly and cleaning up fallen fruit both help.

Cherries don't ripen after picking, so taste a few before harvesting. Pick with the stems attached and refrigerate right away: they keep about a week cold, and much less on the counter.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Brookings and Gold Beach, OR?

Typically January 31. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by March 21. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Brookings.

Is it too late to plant cherry trees in Brookings and Gold Beach?

The spring planting window runs through May 20. Potted plants can still go in later if you water them faithfully through their first summer. Fall planting also works well here.

How long until I can pick cherry trees?

First cherries in three to five years. Pick sweet cherries when they're fully colored and taste sweet; they don't ripen after picking. Keep the stems on for longer storage.

Why do my cherries split before they're ripe?

Rain on ripening cherries is soaked up through the skin until the fruit bursts. Grow crack-resistant varieties like Lapins, keep the tree small enough to cover before rain, or grow sour cherries, which crack less.

Do I need two cherry trees?

Not if you plant a self-fertile variety like Lapins or Stella. Many other sweet cherries, including Rainier, need a different variety nearby that blooms at the same time.

How do I keep birds off my cherry tree?

Drape bird netting over the whole tree as the fruit begins to color and close it at the bottom. That's why a dwarf rootstock like Gisela is so useful: you can actually reach over the tree.

Also plant in Brookings and Gold Beach around the same time

Planting dates for cherry trees in nearby areas

Astoria, OR Mar 25 – May 20
Coos Bay and North Bend, OR Mar 25 – May 20
Tillamook, OR Mar 25 – May 20
Newport and Lincoln City, OR Mar 25 – May 20
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WA Mar 25 – May 20
Forks, WA Mar 25 – May 20

Full planting calendar for Brookings and Gold Beach · Cherry trees in every city