History: Meteor sour cherries were introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1952 as part of an effort to breed more cold hardy varieties.
Why We Grow It: Winter hardiness, reliable cropping, and a resistance to leaf spot make Meteor a good choice for the backyard. The fruit is bright red with yellow flesh. Meteor is classified as an amarelle type sour cherry, similar to Montmorency. It is excellent for making pie.
Canadian Hardiness Zone: 3
Soil Preference: Sandy loam, loam, clay loam. Prefers average to moist conditions with well-drained soils, avoid planting anywhere that floods for more than two weeks in the spring.
Growth Habits and Disease Resistance: Vigorous, cold hardy, compact and rounded growth habit with upright and spreading branches, produces reliable crops. Resistant to bacterial leaf spot.
Sun/Shade: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)
Pollination: Self-pollinating, this variety will produce fruit without a cherry tree of a different variety but will produce more and better fruit if one is present. Sweet and Sour cherries cannot be relied upon to pollinate each other.
Flowering Time: Late
Ripens: Late June
Storage: Keeps about a week in the fridge
Recommended Use: Cooking, fresh eating
Size including roots:
- 1m+ Whip Grade: 100-200 cm whip
- Branched Grade: 100 cm+ with 3 or more branches, 30 cm or more
- <1m Whip Grade: less than 100 cm
- Potted: 100cm+ with branches in a 5 gallon pot
NOTE: Potted plants are not available for shipping!