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Sweet Cherry variety

Van

The short answer

Van requires 700 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 4–9[1]. It needs a pollination partner[2].

Growing facts

Van growing facts
Chill requirement700 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 4–9[1] (nursery figure)
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner, bloom group 3[2]
Harvest windowJune[2]
Years to bearing5–7 years (typical for sweet cherries)[3]
Van sweet cherrySpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Pollination partners

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

Show 5 more compatible varieties

Notes

  • Not self-fruitful, but an excellent pollenizer for other sweet cherries.[2]
  • Very susceptible to bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae).[4]

A year with your Van

When the work happens for a sweet cherry in USDA zone 7, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Sweet Cherry in zone 7
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Spray timing——————
Harvest—————————
Care——————————

See the full month-by-month sweet cherry calendar for zone 7 →

Can I grow Van where I live?

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

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

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Questions

How many chill hours does Van need?
Van needs 700 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Van?
Van grows in USDA zones 4–9.
Is Van self-pollinating?
No — Van needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Cherries — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] Utah State University Extension (Intermountain Tree Fruit Production Guide). Varieties for Utah — Cherry — accessed July 2026
  3. [3] University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Growing Fruit Trees in Maine — Lack of Fruitfulness — accessed July 2026
  4. [4] Washington State University Tree Fruit. Bacterial canker in Washington sweet cherries (WSU Tree Fruit) — accessed July 2026