The Sweetheart cherry is a cultivar of cherry. It is a hybrid of the Van and Newstar cultivars first developed in Canada.[1]
| Sweetheart cherry | |
|---|---|
| Genus | Prunus |
| Species | Prunus avium |
| Hybrid parentage | Van × Newstar |
| Cultivar | Sweetheart |
| Breeder | David Lane |
| Origin | Summerland, British Columbia, Canada |
Cultivar history
editThe Sweetheart cultivar was developed at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, British Columbia. The cross was made in 1975 and selected in 1982, and the variety was officially released in 1994.[2] It has since been used as a parent cultivar for several new varieties, including Staccato, Sentennial, and Sovereign.[3] The American Society for Horticultural Science awarded Sweetheart their Outstanding Fruit Cultivar award in 2012.[4][5]
Tree characteristics
editSweetheart is a self-fertile cultivar which can be used as a "universal pollinator" for other cherry varieties with similar bloom time.[6] The flowers bloom about 2-3 days before Bing.[1] It is a very heavy producer, with overcropping being a potential issue.[7] The tree is highly susceptible to powdery mildew.[8]
Fruit characteristics
editSweetheart is a late-season cherry, ripening about 20-22 days after Bing cherries. The fruit is of moderate size, with red flesh, and dark bright red skin.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c WSU Tree Fruit: Sweetheart Washington State University
- ^ The ASHS Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Award: A 25-year Retrospective HortScience January 2013 vol. 48 no. 1 4-12
- ^ Sweetheart wins award as Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Good Fruit Grower
- ^ Food Day Canada: Sweetheart Cherry
- ^ Award Given For Sweetheart Cherry Summerland Review
- ^ WSU Tree Fruit: Sweet Cherry Pollination
- ^ British Columbia Tree Fruit Production Guide
- ^ Sweet cherry cultivars for the fresh market Oregon State University