Sweet Thing Cherry

Sweet Thing truly lives up to its name, this variety delivers the best fresh-eating quality from the University of Saskatchewan’s breeding program. Its large, firm cherries (up to 6 g) boast a balanced sweetness with minimal tartness, offering flavour that rivals true sweet cherries. Ripening in mid-August, the rich burgundy fruit is excellent for fresh eating, juicing, desserts, and preserves.

Sweet Thing is a favourite among taste-testers for a reason! However, that premium flavour comes with a small trade-off: it’s rated for zone 4, and in zone 3 it’s considered experimental. With the right conditions: a sheltered microclimate and reliable snow cover, many Prairie growers find it’s well worth the effort. This cherry performs well in zone 4 locations such as Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, as well as throughout southern Ontario. In colder zones, if you wish to push the boundaries a bit plant Sweet Thing in a protected spot near a building, fence, or established shelterbelt to help it overwinter successfully - top it with snow for added protection. Let us know how it does, if you are trying this!

Released in 2021, Sweet Thing came from a cross between ‘Carmine Jewel’ and ‘Erdi Jubileum’ (a Hungarian variety) and may include sweet cherry heritage in its lineage. For growers who prioritize taste and are willing to offer a prime location, you will be rewarded with the most delicious cherry flavour.

Read our Sour Cherry Guide here.

Hardiness Zone: 4 (experimental in zone 3B)

Height: 2 m (6–7 ft)

Spread: 2 m (6 ft)

Soil Preference: Well-drained

Light Exposure: Full sun

Pollination: Self-fertile

Latin Name: Prunus cerasus ‘Sweet Thing’