Prunus avium 'BURLAT' sweet cherry tree

You can recognise Burlat cherries from a distance by their colour alone. The fruit ripens to a deep red that almost slips into mahogany, shining like freshly polished cherry wood. The cherries are large, heart shaped, soft and full of juice, the kind that melts at the first bite and leaves a sweet trace on the tongue without any sharp acidity. The flavour is purely sweet, simple yet not dull, reminiscent of early summer when fruit has not yet absorbed the heavy scent of heat. The flesh is soft, a true heart cherry, which means it is not suited for long storage or transport; Burlat is a variety for the moment, for a bowl on the table, for children�s hands, for the first June tasting. The skin is thin and pleasant, never rubbery. The fruit holds well on the stalk, although in wet seasons it may crack, a trait shared by most early heart cherries. The tree grows at a moderate pace and forms a broad, naturally well shaped crown that is easy to maintain without excessive pruning. The blossoms are large, white and abundant, and because they open early, they can be sensitive to late frosts, though in temperate climates Burlat proves to be a reliable early cherry that crops regularly. The variety is not known for particular disease problems; the usual cherry issues such as blossom blight or fruit cracking appear only in conditions where other early varieties struggle as well.

 

This is a partially self fertile variety, but for high yields it is best to plant another early cherry nearby. The most reliable pollinators in Central Europe are Kare�ova and Ka�t�nka. Burlat prefers slightly acidic, moist soil. It is fully hardy and dependable.