Hi, Looking into purchasing a cherry tree hardy to zone 3, and the Crimson Passion cherry from the Romance series from the University of Saskatchewan caught my eye (mainly because they claim that they are sweet enough to eat fresh--I love fresh cherries). Wondering if anyone has grown Crimson Passion and what they thought of it (yield, flavour, plant vigor, etc.). Also, if anyone has had any good experiences with any of the other Romance series, I'd love to know (I have limited space in my backyard and want to choose the right tree). Thanks in advance for any help you can provide. Fruittreegardener
Howdy Fruittreegardener, Crimson Passion has the highest soluble solids and also produces the biggest cherries in the Romance Series. Actually its SS reading (22%) is higher than those of most sweet cherries. However its fairly high content of various acids trick our brain into thinking it is not as sweet. The other down side is it is not as heavy a producer as the others in the series. Cupid has lower SS but also lower acids. Both are fairly good for fresh eating if you allow the cherries to really ripen on the bushes according to most people. My choice is CP for fresh eating and Carmine Jewel for processing. Peace Thean
Thean: Thanks for the input. Do you find Crimson Passion to taste anything like a sweet cherry? Is it sweeter than a Nanking cherry? Also, do you know the yield of 1 Crimson Passion compared to a Carmine Jewel? Thanks again for your help. Fruittreegardener
Howdy Fruittreegardener, CP is different from sweet cherries because of its higher acid content - its like trying to compare apples with crabapples. It's taste is unique and in my opinion is better than sweet cherries in flavour. To my taste buds, Nanking cherry taste sweeter because it has less acids. CP has not been tested long enough but from early results CJ is at least twice as productive as CP. Peace Thean
