Mesabi Cherry
Mesabi Cherry is a large-fruited tart cherry prized for its exceptional flavor, early production, and reliable performance in northern climates.
- Taste: Boldly sweet-tart balance with a rich cherry flavor and moderate acidity, making it ideal for both fresh eating and cooking.
- Skin & Flesh Color: Glossy deep red skin encasing firm, pale yellow flesh that warms to red-pink when fully ripe.
- Harvest Season: Ripens in mid to late July, often a few days earlier than Montmorency in cool regions.
- Disease Resistance & Care: Good overall health with lower susceptibility to cherry leaf spot than many tart varieties; requires full sun, well-drained soil, and standard spray programs for brown rot and powdery mildew.
- Best Uses: Pies, preserves, fruit wines, cobblers, sauces, and fresh-eating for those who enjoy a pronounced cherry tang.
- Storage Life: Keeps for one to two weeks when refrigerated; fruit softens quickly if left at room temperature.
- Pollination: Fully self-fertile—no companion tree needed for abundant fruit set.
- Chill Hours & Hardiness: Thrives with 800–1,200 chill hours; hardy to USDA Zone 4.
- Tree Habit & Size: Moderate vigor with a rounded, semi-open canopy; reaches 12–15 ft tall and 10–12 ft wide at maturity.
- Blossoms & Ornamental Appeal: Loads of fragrant white spring flowers followed by glossy green foliage; attractive form and size for home orchards.
- Origin & Heritage: Selected in Minnesota around 1964 and introduced through Johnson’s Nursery; named for the Mesabi Iron Range region where it proved exceptionally productive.
