June 26, 2025, 3:43 am | Read time: 2 minutes
When the days grow longer and the sun gains strength in early summer, many amateur gardeners look forward to one of the sweetest times of the year: cherry harvest season. But when are the small, red fruits truly ripe? The right time to harvest is crucial for taste, storage, and further processing. myHOMEBOOK explains how to identify ripe cherries.
A warm June evening, the hum of bees still faintly lingers, and under the old cherry tree, the fruits glow enticingly red in the backlight. But anyone who has reached for the ladder too early knows: An unripe cherry disappoints the palate. So every year, the same question arises–how can you tell if cherries are truly ripe? And what does the stem indicate–should it remain on the fruit or come off easily? myHOMEBOOK asked Sebastian Mühlemann from the Bauer Nursery.
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How to Recognize Ripe Cherries
In summer, garden owners sometimes stand under the cherry tree, diligently harvesting the ripe, sweet cherries. Sometimes you have just the fruit in hand, and sometimes the fruit with the stem. However, a cherry is truly ripe only when the fruit detaches without the stem, explains Sebastian Mühlemann: “Typically, fruit trees form a separation layer at the stem base, allowing the fruits to fall off. Accordingly, it can be deduced that the harvest is ‘too early’ from a plant physiological perspective if the stem remains attached.”
Mühlemann also notes that spotted wing drosophila also like ripe cherries. Despite this conflict of interest, the gardener advises picking the cherries early. “It is actually advisable to pick the cherries early to avoid providing a breeding ground for the pest.”
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What to Consider When Picking Cherries with Stems
If you want to follow the expert’s advice and harvest the cherries ripe but as early as possible with the stem, there are a few things to keep in mind. Harvesting with the stem can harm the tree.
“It’s wise to ensure that the bouquet buds or short shoots, where the stems are attached, are not damaged. Because then the tree will produce new fruits here year after year.” If these shoots are removed, according to Mühlemann, the tree will not form new ones in the same spot.