How can i tell if the cherries on the tree in my yard are safe to eat?
Question:how can i tell if the cherries on the tree in my yard are safe to eat? actually im not even sure if they are cherries, but i've had this tree for at least 10 years and it has never grown cherries, but every year it has pink blossoms every spring.. however, this spring it only had blossoms near the bottom of the tree and now its just leaves with berries that look like cherries.
here are some pictures:
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b118/s...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b118/s...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b118/s...
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b118/s...
Answers:
They look like cherries to me, I used to have two in the backyard.
Easiest way to tell if they are safe to eat is to see if birds are eating them. If you see any on the ground or still hanging that are half eaten, they are safe to eat.
Thats the rule for most things.
As for what you have, they are safe to eat. They are a type of cherry.
Just a warning though, not all cherries taste very good. Certain types have been cultivated for taste and they are the type you buy at the supermarket. But, there are many kinds that are sorta wild cherries and they tend to be VERY tart, so take a small bite to see how they tase.
you can tell they are ripe when they easily seperate from the stem, you should be able to pull on the fruit and it will seperate without much trouble.
If you pick them beforethey are ripe, they are still fine, but will be much more tart or sour.
It is a Cherry, very overgrown, but a Cherry. Birds will love them.
all counties have a county horticulturist. Either take the berries to them, mail it to them, or phone them and send them to those websites and they will tell you if it's safe or not. Then get a second opinion and ask the manager at your nearest plant nursery the same question.
Since you know what cherries look like and you're not sure this time, I suspect they are berries for the birds and not for human consumption..
They look like cherries to me! I just had one off of my tree. I've had the tree for years but never had fruit until this year. Just discovered them yesterday! My gardener was here and he said that it is just the first year it has fruit bloom, next year will be even more. Go ahead, I'm sure they are probably great to eat and next year there will be much more.
Take a cherry and cut it open,if it's free of worms/bugs... it's good to eat!
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