Black Pearl Sweet Cherry (NY 8139)
Pollination & Compatibility Guide
Black Pearl cherry pollination guide: S-genotype (S4S13, Group XLV), early bloom overlap, compatible partners (Chelan, Lapins), and management.
Black Pearl is Self-Incompatible (Needs 1 Partner)
Confidence: moderate (ANFIC vs Summit source conflict — see pomology.ts header). The Pearl series splits across groups and must not be grouped by name: Radiance Pearl S1S13, Ebony Pearl S1S4, Black Pearl S4S13, Burgundy Pearl S3S4. Black Pearl needs at least one compatible pollinizer from bloom group 1–3 to set a reliable crop.
- S-Genotype / Genetics
- S4S13 (Group XLV)
- Required Companions
- 1 Compatible Partner
- Bloom Group
- Group 2 (Early-Spring)
- Harvest Timing
- Early Season
Flowering Period & Overlap Window
Sweet and sour cherry flowering periods are classified into numbered bloom groups (1 through 5). Cross-pollination requires overlapping bloom timing between genetically compatible cultivars.
Any compatible cherry cultivar flowering within Group 1 to 3 provides matching blossom overlap.
Compatible Pollination Partners (14)
| Cultivar | Bloom Group | Overlap Type | Harvest | Primary Uses | Interactive Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 2 | Full Overlap | Early | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 2 | Full Overlap | Early | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 2 | Full Overlap | Early-Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid-Late | Fresh Eating, Canning | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid | Canning, Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating, Dessert | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
SelahGuideUniversal Donor | Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross |
StellaGuideUniversal Donor | Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating, All-Purpose | Test Cross |
SunburstGuideUniversal Donor | Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating, Canning | Test Cross |
Incompatible Varieties & Exclusions (2)
These cherry varieties overlap in flowering time with Black Pearl but cannot fertilise it due to shared S-allele genetic incompatibility groups.
Vibrant's S-genotype is not recorded. For this crop compatibility is computed from S-alleles, so it cannot be offered as a partner without one.
Vindskörsbär (Victor)'s S-genotype is not recorded. For this crop compatibility is computed from S-alleles, so it cannot be offered as a partner without one.
Black Pearl Sweet Cherry Pollination & Orchard Management
Black Pearl (NY 8139) is a standout early-season dark sweet cherry developed by Cornell University's fruit breeding program in Geneva, New York. Ripening approximately 10 days before Bing, Black Pearl delivers exceptional fruit firmness, high soluble solids (brix), and uniform dark mahogany colour, capturing premium early-market fresh returns without sacrificing post-harvest shipping endurance.
Genetically, Black Pearl is a diploid, self-incompatible cherry belonging to Incompatibility Group XLV with the S4S13 genotype. It is not self-fertile and requires cross-pollination from an early-blooming partner. It is cross-compatible with Chelan (S3S9), Black Tartarian (S1S2), and universal self-fertile donors like Lapins (S1S4′), Skeena (S1S4′), and Stella (S3S4′) across matching bloom windows.
Blossoming early in Bloom Group 2, Black Pearl requires companion pollinizer trees that flower in Bloom Groups 1, 2, or 3 to ensure overlapping pollen availability during the critical early spring pollination window, securing dependable early commercial yields and robust fruit set across northern orchard zones.
Key Orchard Considerations for Black Pearl
Black Pearl maintains remarkable firmness on the tree and post-harvest, dramatically outperforming soft early heritage varieties like Black Tartarian in mechanical grading.
Early blossom timing leaves flower buds vulnerable to spring frost. Plant on high, well-drained slope sites and maintain active frost mitigation equipment during green tip and bloom.
Trees exhibit strong orchard vigor and good field tolerance to bacterial canker, making it a reliable early commercial choice in cooler, humid regions.
Take Black Pearl from Planning to Planting
Use Kropigo's free browser tools to model your block density, tree counts, and pollinizer rows, then maintain permanent orchard records row by row.
Pollination Checker
Check Black Pearl against supported cultivars with compatible flowering and pollination data.
Commercial Block Planner
Calculate high-density tree spacing, row geometry, and establishment costs.
Block Record Keeping
Track pruning, chemical thinning, and harvest tallies block by block from the orchard.