A neighbor picked up a potted/bagged Northstar cherry tree in town this week. They have been keeping it in their garage (which stays about 40F or so) cause town is quite a bit warmer and it looked like it was about break bud. But they were thinking that they need to get it into the ground soon, and asked me if it was too early.
Ground has mostly thawed here, recently highs have been 60-70F but we are expecting more snow Fri-Sat and lows will like get to mid 20’s, maybe a touch colder. Apples and pears here are just starting to swell buds, no where near green tip.
When I check online looks like that tree’s flower buds can handle mid 20’s, and I’d assume leaf buds are even hardier. But wanted to check here for her. Is it a reasonable risk to plant a Northstar in these conditions?
Stark Bros claims hardy to zone 4 so it should easily be able to do -30. I am sure keeping them in a warmer climate is only hurting it. I have had peaches and an almond showing green leaves since March and it has snowed but they are still alive. They just have not had their leaves progress more. If a online nursery is sending me trees in March or April and they do not have at least some green on buds I worry the tree is not alive because many times they are coming from places with a season far longer than mine. I just accept that if it has flowered I will not get fruit the same year I get the trees.
They should be o.k. planted now. I would use Bali (Evans), and the Saskatchewan cherries (Romeo, Juliet, etc) in Zone 4. I know many Meteor cherries that have died in my Zone 4 area.