Bush Cherry 'Valentine'

Valentine is a cold-hardy dwarf bush cherry developed at the University of Saskatchewan. They are self-fertile and are hybrids of sour and Mongolian cherries. Valentine produces bright red, firm, tart cherries. The fruit can be eaten fresh or used in baking and preserves.  

Even though bush cherries tend to be sour, if you leave the fruit to ripen until the colour darkens, they will be at their peak in terms of sweetness and flavour. The University of Saskatchewan has colour cards for each variety to help determine ripeness, which can be found here.

Bush cherries grow best if left to grow as a shrub rather than a tree. When grown as a shrub, they tend to fruit earlier and are less susceptible to winter kill. They also dislike competition from other plants, so keep the area around the base clear of grass, weeds, or ornamentals. 

Bush cherries prefer full sun and moist, well-drained soil. An annual application of compost or composted manure in the spring is usually adequate in terms of fertilization; it can also help break up heavy clay soil.