Van Sweet Cherry Tree

Yes, A Bing will pollinate a Van cherry. They are both sweet cherries with a similar bloom time.

I purchased the standard bare-root Van tree, and it grows 15-18' tall at maturity. Mine was a supreme four-foot-tall tree 2 years ago. It spent a year in a 3-gallon pot of potting soil before I planted it in the ground. My soil is poor despite being in central Alabama and we've had drought conditions for the last two-years. I do use Stark Tree Pep. That makes the tree approximately 4-years-old, and it is just over 6-feet-tall now yet very hardy. The branching is excellent with a four-foot diameter, and it is blooming every year, but it is still too young to expect fruit.

Short answer is: yes. You can espalier practically any fruit tree, including this tree. The dwarf size is the easiest to espalier. Our detailed article can be found here: //www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/espalier-fruit-treesOur detailed article can be found here: //www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/espalier-fruit-trees

Yes, vans cherries can grow in Pennsylvania

Yes — cherry trees are susceptible to Black Knot disease, though some types are more vulnerable than others.
Highly susceptible:

Wild cherry

Many sweet cherry cultivars

Some ornamental flowering cherries

Moderately susceptible:

Some tart (sour) cherries, like Montmorency, may be less affected but are still vulnerable.

No there is no spray for pollination this is done by bees and wind carrying pollen from one tree flower to the next.

No, a bush cherry (such as Nanking Cherry or Carmine Jewel) will not effectively pollinate a Van Sweet Cherry.

Why Not?
Different Species: Most bush cherries (Prunus tomentosa, Prunus besseyi) are not genetically compatible with sweet cherries (Prunus avium).
Bloom Timing Differences: Even if they bloom around the same time, the pollen is unlikely to be viable for cross-pollination.
Best Pollinators for Van Sweet Cherry
Since Van is not self-fertile, you’ll need another sweet cherry variety for pollination, such as:
✔ Bing
✔ Rainier
✔ Black Tartarian
✔ Lapins (self-fertile, so it can also produce fruit on its own but helps Van as well)

The dark brown, hard sap on your cherry trees is likely a sign of a condition known as gummosis. Gummosis is a response to stress or injury in the tree and can be caused by several factors, including disease, pests, environmental stress, or physical damage. If you see gummosis on multiple trees, it's critical to act quickly to prevent further spread. If the problem persists or you're unsure of the exact cause, it might be worth consulting with a local arborist or agricultural extension service for a more detailed assessment.

This variety requires 400-600 chill hours.

Supreme trees are larger specimens at shipping but the maturity would be the same a dwarf matures 8- 10 feet.