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Sweet Cherry variety

Brooks

The short answer

Brooks requires 500 chill hours[1]. It needs a pollination partner[1].

Growing facts

Brooks growing facts
Chill requirement500 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessNot published for this variety
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner, bloom group 3[1]
Harvest windowMay–June[1]
Years to bearing5–7 years (typical for sweet cherries)[2]
Brooks sweet cherrySpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Pollination partners

Brooks blooms in group 3. The closest bloom-time matches make the most reliable partners:

Show 5 more compatible varieties

Notes

  • Not self-fruitful; pollenized by Bing, Rainier, Van or Lapins.[1]
  • Early-season, large firm dark-red cherry needing 500 hours chill or less.[1]

A year with your Brooks

When the work happens for a sweet cherry in USDA zone 6, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Sweet Cherry in zone 6
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Spray timing—————
Harvest—————————
Care———————————

See the full month-by-month sweet cherry calendar for zone 6 →

Can I grow Brooks where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Brooks? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Brooks need?
Brooks needs 500 chill hours.
Is Brooks self-pollinating?
No — Brooks needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Cherries — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Growing Fruit Trees in Maine — Lack of Fruitfulness — accessed July 2026