How to grow a cherry tree from a seed at home

Gardeners, and even those who simply enjoy the aromatic fruits of cherry trees, often wonder: is it possible to grow a cherry tree from a pit? Of course, it is. It's not an easy or quick process. But with a little effort, you'll be delighted to see a young, healthy cherry tree, grown with your own hands, in your garden or dacha. To make this dream a reality, you need to follow a number of rules and meticulously complete all the key steps.

Content

1 Collection and preparation of seeds
2 Germination
3 Caring for seedlings
4 Landing
5 Further care
6 Video: How to Grow Cherries

Collection and preparation of seeds

First of all, it's important to consider the variety of the future plant. Experienced gardeners recommend propagating pink, red, Barbados, Surinam, and Spanish cherries. However, climate and soil greatly influence cherry tree development, so neglecting to research this factor can result in failure to grow the plant at all or the resulting tree being frail, diseased, and fruitless.

Choose a cherry tree for future planting in your or a neighboring garden. The likelihood that a tree grown from a store-bought cherry pit will bear fruit is very small. Growing cherries from pits is possible in both spring and fall. However, each season has its own nuances.

For spring planting, prepare seeds as follows:

clean the pit from the pulp, wash it in water, then dry it;
In winter, stratification (the process of exposing the seeds to cold) is necessary. Before stratification, soak the seeds in water for 3-5 days, changing the water daily. Then, place the seeds in a glass jar filled with sand, making sure to poke holes in the lid for air, and refrigerate. Moss or sawdust can also be used instead of sand.

Felt cherry undergoes stratification for at least 3 months, while regular cherry undergoes stratification for about 5 months.

For fall planting, all the same steps are required, except for stratification. It's important to note that prepared seeds should be planted in warm weather, at least 45 days before the soil freezes.

Germination

When faced with the question of how to grow a cherry tree from a seed at home, the first thought that comes to mind is choosing a location in the garden. Of course, this is the standard and often successful option. But this can even be done using flower pots (with a capacity of no more than 0.5 liters).

The ideal soil for the plant is a regular seedling mix or the soil where the mother tree grew. Make holes in the soil 2 to 4 cm deep and place the seeds in them. Cover the containers with a plastic bag and place them on a well-lit windowsill. The seeds will germinate within a month, and much sooner if you used already cracked seeds.

Caring for seedlings

A very young plant requires careful care. The main rule when caring for a seedling is not to overwater. Excessive moisture causes fungal diseases in cherries. Potential rot can simply kill an immature plant.

After the first leaf appears on the seedling, feed the plant with mineral fertilizer. After this, fertilize every 2 weeks.

Cherry tree seedlings in the garden require the same care as other plants, such as sweet cherries. This includes annual tilling, weeding, and watering, depending on the climate.

Landing

Once the seedling has been successfully grown, you can begin planting it in the ground.

Remember that mature cherries don't tolerate transplanting well, so decide on a final planting location immediately. Also, keep planting timing in mind: in spring – in April, before bud break; in fall – in October.

To ensure successful planting, properly prepare the site for your future cherry tree. Dig a hole approximately 60 cm in diameter and up to 45 cm deep—enough to accommodate the plant's root system without damaging it. Before planting, carefully inspect the root system and trim off any dried roots. It's also a good idea to soak the roots in water for a couple of hours before planting.

The soil should be fertilized with humus, phosphate, or potassium fertilizer. After planting the seedling, mulch it with compost or bird droppings.

Place the seedling in the hole and firm the soil with your hands. Place a stake nearby. Don't forget to make a hole for watering. Water the seedling generously with warm water.

Further care

To ensure your cherry tree grows healthy and produces a bountiful harvest, it requires regular care.

Follow these simple rules:

Loosen the soil regularly, depending on its nature;
provide balanced watering;
fertilize the plant;
take care of the crown, trim it in a timely manner;
protect the plant from pests and diseases by using special preparations;
Do not allow weeds to grow near the cherry tree.

Thus, from a small seed, even at home, you can grow a robust cherry tree that will delight not only the successful gardener, but the entire family.

Video: How to Grow Cherries

This video will show you how to properly grow cherries at home.