Star Suriname Pitangatuba Cherry Tree for Sale - Buying & Growing Guide

Planting and Care

by Mary Van Keuren | Gardener (30+ Years Experience) – last update on May 24, 2022

Planting instructions

Choose a site for your star Suriname pitangatuba cherry tree that gets at least six hours of sun a day, with fertile soil that drains well. Unpot your tree and tease out any encircling roots, which can girdle the tree and kill it. Dig a hole that’s a little deeper and twice as wide as the tree’s root ball. Throw in a shovelful or two of well-rotted compost or manure, and place the tree on top. Holding it upright and steady, fill in around it with good-quality topsoil, tamping down as you go to eliminate air pockets. Water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of an organic mulch, such as bark chips, around the tree’s root zone to conserve moisture and hinder weeds.

Watering and nutrients

When newly planted, water your star Suriname pitangatuba cherry tree every few days until it’s established, with robust new growth visible on the branches. Generally, the tree needs about 1 inch of water a week, either from rain or supplemental watering. To determine if it’s time to water, check the soil 2 inches down and see if it is dry — if so, water the tree. Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release product throughout the growing season. This can be a formula such as 10-10-10 or a product that’s designed specifically for tropical plants.

Pollination

Star cherry trees are self-fertile, with a single tree having both male and female reproductive parts. Thus, you will be able to harvest fruit even if you have just one tree. Having multiple trees, however, may increase the amount of fruit you get from each tree. Flowers are predominantly pollinated by bees.

Pruning

Prune your tree at any time to remove broken, diseased, or damaged limbs, cutting them back to healthy wood. You may also prune to shape the tree and open up the canopy to light and air, but do not cut out more than a third of the tree’s branches each year. The best time to prune is after the tree has finished flowering.

Pests and diseases

Star cherry trees have few natural pests or diseases. Various beetle species may be attracted to the fruit, but a healthy tree should be able to fend off infestations. Scale insects and aphids may appear on container-grown trees. As a last resort, neem oil may be used to repel insects. Diseases that may impact your star Suriname pitangatuba cherry include root rot and leaf spot. These fungal diseases can be prevented by keeping the area around the base of the tree free of dead leaves and other debris and avoiding overwatering.

Harvesting

Star cherry trees flower and fruit throughout the year, depending on your climate, so you may get more than one harvest, although spring and summer are when you’ll see the most fruit. The fruits are ready when they turn a bright red and pull off the tree easily. They do not last long after picking; you’ll want to either eat them, use them in cooking, or freeze them for future use within several days of picking.

Achieving maximum results

In most of the U.S., the star Suriname pitangatuba cherry tree should be grown in a container that may be brought inside when the weather goes below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Choose a container for your tree that is roughly twice the size of the root ball and has good drainage, and plant it in good-quality potting soil as per our directions above. Place in a sunny spot on your patio or in your backyard. When bringing it inside, it should be placed near your sunniest window. Monitor the plant’s water needs carefully; container-grown plants tend to dry out more quickly than those planted outside. Occasionally wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth to keep dust at a minimum and deter insects.

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