How To Plant Cherry Seeds A Comprehensive Guide To Growing Cherry Trees

Are you fascinated by the idea of growing your own cherry tree from scratch? Planting cherry seeds can be a rewarding experience, especially for home gardeners who enjoy a bit of a challenge. While commercial cherry growers typically use grafting techniques to ensure consistent fruit quality, planting cherry pits is a fun and educational project for the home enthusiast. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about planting cherry seeds, from preparing the pits to nurturing your seedling into a thriving cherry tree. So, if you're ready to embark on this fruitful adventure, let's dive in!

Understanding the Challenges and Rewards

Before we get started, it's important to understand that growing cherries from seed can be a bit of a gamble. Unlike commercially grown cherries, which are produced from grafts of known varieties, cherry trees grown from seed may not produce fruit that is true to the parent tree. This means that the cherries you eventually harvest could be different in taste, size, and quality from the cherries you enjoyed eating. In some cases, the fruit may even be bitter. However, this element of surprise is also part of the fun for many home growers. It's like a little horticultural experiment in your own backyard!

Despite the potential for variation, there are many rewards to planting cherry seeds. First, it's a cost-effective way to grow your own cherry trees, especially if you already have access to fresh cherries. Second, it's a fascinating way to learn about plant propagation and the life cycle of a fruit tree. Third, the satisfaction of nurturing a tree from a tiny seed to a mature fruit-bearing plant is immense. Finally, even if your tree doesn't produce the most delicious cherries, it will still be a beautiful addition to your landscape, providing shade and attracting pollinators. So, if you're up for a bit of a challenge and enjoy the process of gardening, planting cherry seeds might be the perfect project for you.

Gathering and Preparing Cherry Seeds

The first step in planting cherry seeds is, of course, to obtain the seeds. The easiest way to do this is to save the pits from fresh cherries that you've eaten. You can use pits from store-bought cherries or cherries from your own tree, if you have one. Keep in mind that the variety of cherry will influence the characteristics of the resulting tree, so if you have a particular type of cherry you love, try to use pits from that variety. Once you have your cherry pits, you'll need to clean them thoroughly to remove any remaining fruit pulp. This is important to prevent mold and decay, which can inhibit germination. To clean the pits, simply rinse them under running water and scrub them with a brush or your fingers. Make sure to remove all traces of pulp.

After cleaning, you'll need to stratify the cherry pits. Stratification is a process of exposing seeds to cold, moist conditions to break their dormancy and encourage germination. Cherry seeds require a period of cold stratification to mimic the natural winter conditions they would experience in the wild. This process typically involves storing the seeds in a refrigerator for several months. To stratify your cherry pits, place them in a container filled with moist (but not soaking wet) peat moss, vermiculite, or sand. You can use a plastic bag, a jar, or any other container that will retain moisture. Make sure the seeds are surrounded by the moist medium. Then, place the container in your refrigerator (not the freezer!) for at least 10 weeks, and preferably 12-16 weeks. During this time, the cold and moisture will trigger the internal processes that prepare the seeds for germination. Check the moisture level of the medium periodically and add water if it starts to dry out.

Planting Your Cherry Seeds

After the stratification period, your cherry seeds are ready to be planted. The best time to plant them is in the early spring, after the last frost. You can either plant them directly in the ground or start them in containers. If you choose to plant them directly in the ground, select a location that receives full sun (at least 6 hours of sunlight per day) and has well-drained soil. Cherry trees prefer slightly acidic soil, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Before planting, prepare the soil by loosening it with a garden fork and amending it with compost or other organic matter. This will improve drainage and provide nutrients for the young seedlings. Dig a hole that is about 1-2 inches deep and place the cherry pit in the hole. Cover the pit with soil and gently pat it down. Water the area thoroughly.

If you prefer to start your cherry seeds in containers, you'll need to use pots that are at least 6 inches in diameter. Fill the pots with a well-draining potting mix and plant the cherry pits about 1-2 inches deep. Water the pots thoroughly and place them in a sunny location. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Germination can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, so be patient. Once the seedlings emerge, they will need plenty of sunlight and water to grow. You can fertilize them with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks. When the seedlings are large enough (about 1 foot tall), you can transplant them into larger pots or directly into the ground, following the same guidelines as for planting directly.

Caring for Your Cherry Seedlings

Once your cherry seedlings have emerged, they will need regular care to thrive. This includes watering, fertilizing, pruning, and protecting them from pests and diseases. Water your seedlings regularly, especially during dry periods. Cherry trees prefer consistently moist soil, but they don't like to be waterlogged. Fertilize your seedlings every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer, following the instructions on the package. Pruning is important to shape the tree and remove any dead or damaged branches. The best time to prune cherry trees is in the late winter or early spring, before the buds start to swell. Protect your seedlings from pests and diseases by monitoring them regularly and taking action if you see any problems. Common cherry tree pests include aphids, spider mites, and borers. Common diseases include leaf spot, brown rot, and powdery mildew. There are many organic and chemical controls available for these pests and diseases, so consult with your local nursery or extension office for recommendations.

Patience and the Potential for Grafting

Growing cherry trees from seed requires a lot of patience. It can take several years for a cherry tree grown from seed to mature and produce fruit. In the meantime, you'll need to provide consistent care and protection. Remember that the fruit produced by a tree grown from seed may not be the same as the parent tree, so you might have to wait several years to find out what kind of cherries you'll get. If you're not happy with the fruit your tree produces, you can always graft a scion from a known variety onto your seedling. Grafting is a technique that involves joining two plants together so that they grow as one. This allows you to control the variety of fruit your tree produces. Grafting is a relatively simple process that can be done by home gardeners with a little practice. There are many resources available online and at your local library that can teach you how to graft cherry trees. So, even if your seedling doesn't produce the perfect cherries, you can still enjoy the fruits of your labor by grafting a more desirable variety onto it.

In conclusion, planting cherry seeds is a rewarding project for home gardeners who are willing to take on a bit of a challenge. While it requires patience and care, the satisfaction of growing your own cherry tree from a tiny seed is immense. And who knows, you might even discover a new and delicious variety of cherry in the process! So, go ahead and give it a try. You might just surprise yourself with your green thumb!