Tart Cherry Growth Stages

Tart Cherry - Montmorency
Dormant		No swelling visible
Bud Swell		Swollen buds become noticeable and no green tissue is visible.
Side Green		Green Tissue is visible on the sides of the bud.
Green Tip		Green Tissue is visible at the tip of the bud.
Bud Burst		Also called "Tight Cluster" the top of the bud has opened and the individual flower buds are visible. Cherry fruit buds have multiple flowers.
Early White Bud		The flower buds continue to open and the white petals are visible.
White Bud		Also called "Popcorn". This is the stage just before bloom.
First Bloom		When the first flowers open.
Full Bloom		All or most of the flowers on the tree are open.
Petal Fall		When the petals are falling off the tree.
In the Shuck		When all the petals have fallen and the sepals hide the fruit.
Shuck Split		When the growth of the fruit splits the shuck.
6 mm Fruit		Refers to fruit diameter.
8 mm Fruit
10 mm Fruit
12 mm Fruit
Pit Hardening	Not really a visible stage. It is when the pit of the fruit becomes hard. This is tested by trying to cut the fruit in half.
14 mm Fruit
16 mm Fruit
Straw-colored Fruit		The fruit color changes from green to yellow.
Coloring Fruit		The fruit color changes from yellow to red.
Harvest		The fruit is ripe and ready to harvest!

Michigan Cherries