How to grow a cherry tree from a seed at home

Cherries

Gardeners grow fruit-bearing cherry varieties that were created by crossing cherries with various types of sweet cherry. This berry is loved by almost everyone. Although many prefer to propagate from cuttings or purchase seedlings and plant them directly, it is possible to grow cherries from seeds at home. The process is quite laborious and requires diligence. However, it's important to remember that such a tree may not inherit the characteristics of the parent variety.

Is it possible to grow a cherry tree from a seed?

A cherry tree grown from a stone will bear small, sour fruit, and not for at least 5 years, sometimes even up to 8 years. Most of these are wild cherries. It is recommended to graft a high-quality, varietal cherry onto such a tree, preferably two varieties at once. The trunk of a young tree is very thin, so a cleft graft is considered the best method. A scion is taken from the stone fruit tree you want to grow in your garden. It should have 2-3 healthy buds. The rootstock is trimmed back, leaving 15 cm of it, and a 2-3 cm cleft is made into which the scion is inserted. The grafts are joined and secured with tape, sticky side out. The remaining grafts are filled with garden pitch. The work is carried out using sterile tools.

Attention!

Do not allow the trunk to become pinched.

The grafting is successful if leaves appear above the graft. Over time, the plant will adapt, and then the sling is removed. This tree grows well and is easy to maintain. This cherry tree has many advantages. The positive qualities of a tree grown from a seed include:

endurance;
increased frost resistance;
reduced susceptibility to diseases of stone fruit crops.

These trees adapt well to the conditions of a particular area.

Selection of planting material

When propagating cherries, remember that not every pit will grow into a full-fledged tree. It's important to select large seedlings from berries that have fully ripened directly on the tree.

Only ripe berries that have fallen to the ground, but not dried out, are suitable for planting. Avoid planting berries from the seeds of berries bought at the market, as they are often picked prematurely and ripen en route.

Attention!

To increase the chances of growing a new tree, experts recommend taking more planting material.

Their germination rate is 70 to 80%, so it's important to collect them in bulk. When preparing seeds, avoid mixing different varieties. It's best to use separate containers. Avoid overdrying the seeds. This will damage the outer shell and impair germination. In central Russia, where planting occurs in the spring, place them in a jar filled with damp sand. This will keep them in a suitable condition for planting without affecting germination.

Stratification

To prevent the pits from freezing during the cold winter, it's best to postpone planting until spring. Stratification should be carried out beforehand. This process prepares the seeds for the cold, essentially overwintering them in natural conditions. Stratification will help them germinate successfully. The further south the region where you plan to grow cherries, the shorter the stratification period and the higher the chance of getting viable seedlings.

Place the seeds in a small container, sprinkle with damp peat, sawdust, or sand. Place in a room with a temperature of 2°C to 6°C. Check the planting material weekly to ensure it has not become moldy or rotted. Pour the seeds onto a clean surface and inspect them. Check the soil as well, then pour them back in. Moisten if necessary. Always treat the seed with a fungicidal treatment. This treatment helps preserve the seeds better, and prevents the growth of dangerous microbes and fungi.

Planting a seed in a pot or container

As soon as the seed splits its shell and a sprout emerges, it's time to plant. You'll need a 0.5-liter pot with a 3-4 cm drainage layer of fine sand at the bottom. Add nutritious, light soil on top. This can be taken from the mother tree's growing area. The soil should be preheated in the oven and treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. Some people prepare their own potting mix. To do this, mix:

leaf soil;
coarse sand;
black soil;
sawdust.

To encourage root growth, it's recommended to soak the seedlings in a root growth promoter for 1-2 hours. Then, plant the seeds at a depth of 1.8-2 cm, lightly moistening the soil beforehand. Space them approximately 1 cm apart, then cover with soil, water again, and cover with plastic wrap. During the first year, ensure the soil doesn't dry out. Loosen the soil gently, but do so gently. A potted seedling from a seed usually reaches full growth in the fifth year. At this point, the first fruit will appear, and the tree will begin to bear fruit.

Transplantation into open ground

A good harvest can be expected from a cherry tree grown from a seed if the right location is chosen. The tree prefers full sun and does not like drafts. A site on the south side of a house is best. The wall of the building will protect the cherry tree from winds. In central and northern regions, seedlings should be transplanted in the spring, and in the south, in the fall.