Prunus avium Bigarreau Jaune de Missens - Cherry Tree

The Organic 'Missens Bigarreau' Cherry Tree is characterized by its beautiful yellow fruits that are much less attractive to birds, thus preserving the harvest. It produces a medium-sized bigarreau cherry, measuring 2 to 2.5cm (1in) in diameter, with a round shape and a fairly thick, shiny, golden yellow skin. The flesh is crisp, melting, juicy, sweet, and slightly acidic. A delicious fruit to pick straight from the tree. The harvest takes place from late June to mid-July, and the fruits can be consumed as soon as they are picked. This cherry tree displays intense and early flowering, offering a very remarkable spring spectacle. Its spreading, ornamental habit can provide shade in the summer. It is not very susceptible to diseases and requires minimal maintenance. Its good cold resistance and ability to grow in all types of soils, except for overly clayey soils, make it suitable for cultivation in many regions.

Plant from Organic Agriculture.

Prunus avium belongs to the Rosaceae family, like the Morello Cherry Tree (Prunus cerasus). Also known as Wild Cherry or Bird Cherry, it is native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, and has been present in Europe since the Neolithic period (New Stone Age). In France, cultivation began in the Middle Ages, where it was appreciated for its fruits and wood. It was during the 17th century that it spread to the largest orchards in the country. In the 18th century, Louis XV encouraged and supported the discovery of new varieties.

The Yellow 'Missens Bigarreau' Cherry Tree forms a vigorous tree with a semi-erect silhouette that spreads with age, reaching approximately 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 feet) in height and 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 feet) in width when fully grown, producing numerous branches. The reddish wood is a characteristic feature of cherry tree families. Its habit is well-suited to free-form shapes on high or half standards and low goblet forms. The deciduous foliage is composed of large leaves measuring 6 to 8cm (2 to 3in) in length, alternate, obovate, irregularly toothed, and shiny green, turning brown-orange in autumn. The semi-late flowering occurs around mid-April, before the leaves appear, which can expose it to late spring frosts. The pure white flowers, measuring 2 to 3cm (1in) in diameter, are single and grouped in clusters. They can be destroyed by frost at temperatures ranging from -2 to -3°C, so it is recommended to plant cherry trees in sheltered locations, facing west and protected from cold winds in regions that experience late frosts. Nevertheless, the very abundant flowering often leads to satisfactory fruiting. It is a remarkably decorative flowering tree in spring and particularly honey-producing and nectar-rich. A hardy tree that can withstand temperatures of around -20°C, it is suitable for cultivation in all regions, including at high altitudes. This cherry tree is self-sterile or self-incompatible, and its flowers cannot pollinate themselves. That is why the presence of other cherry tree varieties in close proximity, flowering at the same time, is necessary. For example, the varieties 'Burlat', 'Early Rivers', 'Hedelfingen', 'Stark Gold', 'Summit', 'Van' are suitable for cross-pollination, thereby increasing the number of fruits.

The Yellow 'Missens Bigarreau' Cherry Tree offers a harvest that can be more or less abundant depending on the year and may exhibit alternate bearing, allowing the tree to replenish its reserves. With a fairly rapid fruiting, around 3 to 4 years, fruit production becomes optimal after 6 to 7 years. An adult cherry tree (between 10 and 20 years old) produces an average of 25 to 50 kilos of fruits per year. The fruit is attached to the branch by a relatively short stalk measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in length. The harvest begins in late June and extends into July. It is important to only pick the fruits when they are ripe, as they do not ripen further, and with their stalks to ensure good preservation. Cherries are quite fragile, so the harvest is done with a picking pole or manually using a ladder, but always with delicacy. Very juicy and sweet, this cherry is delicious when eaten raw. In cooking, it reveals all its flavours in the preparation of clafoutis, cakes, crumbles or pies, fruit salads, and as an accompaniment to savoury dishes based on white meats (turkey, chicken, veal, duck, etc.). They are also perfect for making jams, preserved in syrup, or canned.

Its content of vitamins A, C, and E, phenolic antioxidants, calcium, and copper, with a significant contribution of iron, its richness in trace elements and fibre, make cherries a health asset. The fruits can only be stored for a few days in a cool place or in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen once washed, dried, stemmed, and pitted.

Very popular, the cherry tree finds its place in the garden, planted on a lawn, in an orchard, or in an edible hedge. For the pleasure of young and old, among a wide range of cherry trees, it is easy to find the variety that best suits one's desires.