The 2006 season is complete. We've just pitted the last of our own cherry stash for the freezer and the dregs on the trees are left for the birds. (I ate these last 5 after I took the picture though!)
We met some new "cherry people" this year and converted a few s'toon pickers into cherry pickers! We found some new cherry recipes and took some new cherry pictures.
I now have some "cherries against the ruler" pictures similar to our "saskatoons against the ruler" pictures so you will be able to get a good idea of the size of the fruit. I'll be adding the new pictures and recipes to this site over the winter months.
Our cherries were on the small side this year, averaging ¾ inch (1.9 cm) in diameter. The trees averaged two pails 8-litres (8-gallons) of cherries per tree. An un-pitted pail weighs on average 6lbs (2.72kg) and yields about 14 cups (3.1-litres) of pitted cherries. A heaping 4-cup (1-litre) measuring cup of pitted cherries weighs 3.75lbs (1.7kg) We discovered that the pit to fruit ratio remains about the same no matter the size of the cherry.
Keeping our fingers crossed for a plentiful crop of saskatoons and cherries for 2007.
The farm will be open for cherry picking
Monday, July 10th through Saturday, July 15th
from 8am until Noon, weather permitting.
Note: There are no road signs up this year. See our map page for directions.
Cherries are ready! Way ahead of schedule, we're guessing because of the warm weather, the cherries are ready for picking.
Picking is by appointment only - email the farm at stoons@stoons.ca (preferred) OR call 467-9846.
The good news is that most of the saskatoon bushes survived the winter and last year's entomosporium. The mice destroyed a few bushes by eating the bark all the way around the stem and killing the bush.
The not-so-good news is that there are very few saskatoon blossoms, probably due to the stress from last year. At this time, we are not anticipating having a saskatoon crop.
The cherries are flowering strongly. If the growing conditions remain good, we are anticipating a good crop of cherries. Cherry picking usually begins around the last week of July to the first week of August and continues for about a month. I will update the status of the cherries as the season progresses.
If you would like to be notified when this page is updated, send me an email and let me know.
Send it to stoons AT stoons DOT ca, or, use this link, or, the link at the bottom of the page.
This page is archived and will not be updated.
©2006 SueZooStuff. All Rights Reserved.