Question:
Do I need to plant more than one cherry tree for pollination and fruit set?Answer:
Sour or tart cherries are self-fruitful. Self-pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma on the same flower, from another flower on the same plant, or from a flower on another plant of the same variety.
Only one sour cherry tree needs to be planted for pollination and fruit set. Many sweet cherry varieties cannot produce fruit from their own pollen and are considered self-unfruitful. These plants require cross-pollination for fruit set. Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen from one plant to the flower of a different variety. When planting self-unfruitful cultivars, at least two different sweet cherry varieties must be planted for fruit production. While most sweet cherry varieties are self-unfruitful, BlackGold™ and WhiteGold™ are self-fruitful.