Cherry trees are a beautiful summer fruit that may be eaten fresh or in pies, jellies, or as a light snack.
You can cultivate a cherry tree in your own garden if you have the room and time.
The best way to cherries from store bought fruit involves cleaning the stones with warm water then allowing them to dry thoroughly for about a week before storing them in the fridge for 2 months. After this time you can sow them in well drained compost, keeping watered until they germinate.
- Remove the pits. Save a handful of cherry pits from local cherries. To loosen the rest of the fruit, soak it in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. Remove and clean them individually. Allow them to dry out fully on paper towels for about a week before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 10 weeks.
- Plant indoors. Bring the container out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature before planting two to three pits in a pot with well-draining soil indoors. Water the soil thoroughly on a regular basis.
- Transplanting. When seedlings begin growing, only the toughest of the group should be kept, and when the soil has sufficiently warmed in early spring, it may be transplanted to its final location outside.
- Tree Size: 2 year old tree that is approximately 4-5 feet tall
- Estimated Chilling Requirements (Below 45°): 400 hours
- USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-9
- Flavor of fruit: Sweet Great for the South
- Cherries
How long does it take for a cherry stone to sprout?
It takes 10 to 15 weeks to sprout, providing that they have the right soil and other conditions to germinate.
Why do you need to keep them in the fridge before you plant the pips?
By storing the seeds in the fridge you are replicating the effects of the winter months.
This is a necessary step known as ‘stratification‘ and it helps to get the seed ready for the long process of germination which lies ahead.
Without this cold spell it is unlikely that any of your cherry pips will grow.
Can you grow a cherry tree indoors?
Your cherry tree will grow slowly so, providing that you keep it well watered and it gets plenty of natural light, then it will quite happily grow indoors.
During the summer months you’ll be able to move the plant outside and then bring it back indoors before winter hits.
How fast will a cherry tree grow?
A good, healthy tree will grow anywhere between 2 and 3 feet per year in the right conditions.
Will a cherry tree grown from store bought cherries produce fruit?
There is a possibility that a cherry tree grown from pips will produce fruit.
It may take some time for this to occur as cherry trees normally mature and begin to blossom when they are around seven years old.
Final Words
Cherry trees are beautiful to look at and even more delicious to eat.
You can grow your own cherry tree with the right conditions, but if you don’t have the time or patience required remember that there’s always the option of buying your tree from a store.
