Heirloom

Bing Cherry

Prunus avium 'Bing'

a bunch of red berries hanging from a tree

The king of sweet cherries with large, heart-shaped fruits that showcase a deep mahogany color and firm, juicy flesh bursting with rich sweetness. Developed in Oregon in the 1870s, Bing cherries are the gold standard for fresh eating and represent everything people love about summer stone fruit. These premium cherries command top prices at farmers markets and grocery stores alike.

Harvest

100-120d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

3–8

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Difficulty

Moderate to Difficult

🌱

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Transplant

Harvest

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Bing Cherry in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 fruit-tree →

Zone Map

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Bing Cherry · Zones 3–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Moderate to Difficult

Spacing15-20 feet (dwarf), 25-30 feet (standard)

SoilWell-drained sandy loam with excellent drainage

pH6.0-7.0

Water1-1.5 inches per week, avoid overhead watering during fruit ripening

SeasonEarly spring bloom, mid-summer harvest

FlavorRich, sweet, and complex with firm, meaty texture

ColorDeep red to dark mahogany, almost black when fully ripe

Size1 inch diameter, large

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	June – August	—	September – September
Zone 4	—	June – July	—	August – September
Zone 5	—	May – July	—	August – October
Zone 6	—	May – July	—	August – October
Zone 7	—	May – June	—	July – October
Zone 8	—	April – June	—	July – November

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Maintenance: High.

Harvesting

Fleshy, yellow to red to purple-red, with a large pit (stone) and long stem.

Color: Gold/Yellow, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy. Type: Drupe. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.

Garden value: Edible

Edibility: Fruit edible raw or cooked.

Storage & Preservation

Store unwashed Bing cherries in the refrigerator at 32-35°F with high humidity for up to 2 weeks. Keep them in perforated plastic bags to maintain moisture while allowing air circulation. Never store at room temperature – they lose sweetness and develop off-flavors within 24 hours.

Freeze whole cherries with pits intact for best texture, spreading them on baking sheets before transferring to freezer bags. Pitted cherries work better for smoothies but become mushy when thawed. For preserves, Bing cherries' firm flesh holds up beautifully in jams and jellies, requiring less pectin than softer varieties. Dehydrate at 135°F for 18-24 hours to create intensely flavored dried cherries perfect for baking. Their high sugar content makes them excellent candidates for cherry wine or brandied fruit that improves with age.

History & Origin

Origin: Europe to Afghanistan, Northern Africa

Advantages

+Attracts: Butterflies, Pollinators
+Edible: Fruit edible raw or cooked.

Considerations

-Toxic (Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Seeds): Medium severity
-High maintenance

Companion Plants

Chives and garlic planted around the drip line do real work — their sulfur compounds deter aphids, which cluster on new growth and can spread disease to already-stressed trees. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) and nasturtiums draw in predatory insects like lacewings that keep aphid and scale populations in check. Comfrey is worth planting 2-3 feet from the trunk: its deep taproot mines calcium and potassium, and you can chop the leaves down as a nutrient mulch every 4-6 weeks. Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a serious problem — Bing cherry is among the more sensitive species to juglone toxicity, and the damage accumulates slowly enough that you won't notice until the tree is already in decline.

Plant Together

Chives

Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage cherry trees

Marigolds

Deters nematodes and attracts beneficial insects for pollination

Nasturtiums

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting the cherry tree

Comfrey

Deep roots bring nutrients to surface and leaves make excellent mulch

Lavender

Repels moths and other pests while attracting pollinators

Clover

Fixes nitrogen in soil and provides ground cover to retain moisture

Tansy

Repels ants, mice, and flying insects that can harm cherry trees

Garlic

Natural fungicide properties help prevent bacterial canker and brown rot

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone, a toxic compound that inhibits cherry tree growth

Fennel

Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of most fruit trees including cherries

Tomatoes

Compete for similar nutrients and can harbor diseases that affect stone fruits

Nutrition Facts

Calories

63kcal(3%)

Protein

1.06g(2%)

Fiber

2.1g(8%)

Carbs

16g(6%)

Fat

0.2g(0%)

Vitamin C

7mg(8%)

Vitamin A

3mcg(0%)

Vitamin K

2.1mcg(2%)

Iron

0.36mg(2%)

Calcium

13mg(1%)

Potassium

222mg(5%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #171719)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Susceptible to brown rot and bacterial canker

Common Pests

Cherry fruit fly, aphids, scale insects, birds

Diseases

Brown rot, bacterial canker, leaf spot, powdery mildew

Troubleshooting Bing Cherry

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Fruit developing soft brown patches that spread quickly, often with grayish spore tufts, just before or at harvest

Likely Causes

Brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) — fungal, spreads fast in warm humid conditions, especially after rain
Overhead irrigation or prolonged wet weather holding moisture on the fruit

What to Do

1.Pick affected fruit immediately and bag it in the trash — don't leave mummies on the tree or the ground
2.Apply a copper-based or captan fungicide starting at petal fall and again 2-3 weeks before harvest, per label rates
3.Avoid any overhead watering once fruit starts sizing up; drip or soaker hose at the root zone only

Sunken, elongated dark cankers on branches or the trunk, often with gummy amber sap oozing from the wound, most visible in spring

Likely Causes

Bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae) — enters through pruning cuts, frost cracks, or insect wounds
Pruning during wet weather, which spreads the bacteria between cuts

What to Do

1.Prune only during dry weather in late summer (July–August) when bacterial canker pressure is lowest — not in fall or winter
2.Cut at least 6 inches below any visible canker margin into clean wood; sterilize your pruning saw with 70% isopropyl between every cut
3.Paint fresh pruning cuts with a copper-based wound sealant to limit entry points

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for Bing cherry trees to produce fruit?▼

Grafted Bing cherry trees typically begin producing fruit 3-5 years after planting, with full production reached by year 7-10. Dwarf rootstocks may fruit slightly earlier, while standard trees take longer but produce larger yields. Trees grown from seed would take 7-10 years and won't produce true Bing cherries.

Can you grow Bing cherry trees in containers?▼

Yes, but choose dwarf rootstock varieties and use containers at least 20-25 gallons. Container trees need more frequent watering, winter protection in cold climates, and annual root pruning. Yields will be significantly lower than ground-planted trees, but the fruit quality remains excellent.

What cherry varieties pollinate Bing cherries?▼

Bing cherries need cross-pollination from compatible sweet cherry varieties including Stella, Black Tartarian, Van, Lambert, or Rainier. Plant the pollinator within 100 feet and ensure both varieties bloom at the same time. Stella is self-fertile and can pollinate Bing while not requiring its own pollinator.

When should I plant Bing cherry trees?▼

Plant bare-root Bing cherry trees in early spring, 4-6 weeks before the last frost date when soil is workable but trees are still dormant. Container-grown trees can be planted spring through early fall, but avoid planting during hot summer weather or when the ground is frozen.

Are Bing cherries good for beginners?▼

Bing cherries are challenging for beginners due to their pollination requirements, disease susceptibility, and need for precise timing with sprays and pruning. New gardeners should consider easier sweet cherries like Stella or start with sour cherries like Montmorency, which are more forgiving and self-fertile.

Why do my Bing cherries crack and split?▼

Cherry cracking occurs when rain or heavy irrigation causes rapid water uptake through the roots and fruit surface, creating internal pressure that splits the skin. Prevent cracking with consistent irrigation, avoiding overhead watering near harvest, and covering trees with plastic during rainy periods when fruit is ripening.