The Sweetheart cherry is a cultivar of cherry. It is a hybrid of the Van and Newstar cultivars first developed in Canada.WSU Tree Fruit: Sweetheart Washington State University
Cultivar history The Sweetheart cultivar was developed at the Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, British Columbia. The cross was made in 1975 and selected in 1982, and the variety was officially released in 1994.The ASHS Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Award: A 25-year Retrospective HortScience January 2013 vol. 48 no. 1 4-12 It has since been used as a parent cultivar for several new varieties, including Staccato, Sentennial, and Sovereign.Sweetheart wins award as Outstanding Fruit Cultivar Good Fruit Grower The American Society for Horticultural Science awarded Sweetheart their Outstanding Fruit Cultivar award in 2012.Food Day Canada: Sweetheart CherryAward Given For Sweetheart Cherry Summerland Review
Tree characteristics Sweetheart is a self-fertile cultivar which can be used as a "universal pollinator" for other cherry varieties with similar bloom time.WSU Tree Fruit: Sweet Cherry Pollination The flowers bloom about 2-3 days before Bing. It is a very heavy producer, with overcropping being a potential issue.British Columbia Tree Fruit Production Guide The tree is highly susceptible to powdery mildew.Sweet cherry cultivars for the fresh market Oregon State University
Fruit characteristics Sweetheart is a late-season cherry, ripening about 20-22 days after Bing cherries. The fruit is of moderate size, with red flesh, and dark bright red skin.
References