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Professional growers often use grafting techniques to cultivate cherry trees, ensuring predictable characteristics. This is because cherry trees grown from seeds may produce fruit with a more bitter taste. Growing cherry trees from seeds is a project for home gardeners looking for a challenge or those who want ornamental trees. To grow cherry trees from seeds, plant dried cherry seeds in neutral pH, well-draining soil outdoors in early fall. Choose a sunny location and plant the seeds about 2.5 cm deep. You can also start seeds indoors in pots and transplant them outside in spring. Remember, cherry trees can grow over 7.5 meters tall, and there's no guarantee they will bear abundant fruit, so ensure you're happy with having a cherry tree as a garden centerpiece!
Steps
Preparing Cherry Seeds
Understand the possibilities. Cherry trees do not inherit all traits from their parent trees, meaning they may not resemble the parent plant. You might end up with a tree unsuitable for your climate, vulnerable to local pests, or producing less desirable fruit. However, you could also grow a unique and beautiful tree, and regardless, the process will be rewarding in the long run.
- For a higher chance of success, consider planting cherry saplings. Local nurseries can recommend grafted cherry trees suited to your climate and soil.
Selecting cherries. Ideally, you should find fresh cherries from locally grown trees or those sold at farmers' markets in mid to late summer. Seeds from early-season fruits often fail to germinate, and store-bought cherries have a lower success rate. Purchase a handful since not all seeds will sprout. There are two common types of cherries to consider:
- Most fresh cherries sold commercially are sweet cherries. These varieties are the tastiest but typically thrive only in USDA hardiness zones 5-7.
- Sour cherries are generally easier to grow and can withstand zones 3-8, depending on the variety. Fresh sour cherries might be harder to find, so check local farmers' markets.
Eating the cherries. Fortunately, you need to remove the flesh before planting the seeds. Enjoy the cherries and clean any remaining flesh with a damp paper towel.
- If it's early or mid-summer, let the seeds dry on a paper towel for a few days, then store them in a sealed container in a cool place. Retrieve the seeds in late summer and proceed to the next step.
Consider outdoor planting in early fall. Cherry seeds require consistent moisture and cold for about 3-5 months to prepare for germination. If your winter lasts this long and temperatures don’t drop below -30ºC, the easiest option is to plant them in the fall. If you choose this method, skip the next section. Otherwise, proceed if you don’t live in such a climate or prefer a higher success rate.
- Sweet cherry trees thrive best after a few weeks of warm weather before the cold sets in. Planting in late summer or early fall meets this need. However, a warm spell after the cold has started can cause some trees to revert to dormancy. Check long-term weather forecasts to avoid this.
Store sweet cherry seeds in warm, moist sphagnum moss for two weeks (optional). Many skip this step and still see some seeds germinate, but it increases the success rate for most sweet cherry varieties. Here’s how to perform this warm stratification process:
- Use sterile sphagnum moss, which resists mold, the biggest risk at this stage. Wear clean gloves to avoid introducing mold spores.
- Place the moss in a plastic bag or container and add room-temperature water (around 20ºC). Let it absorb water for 8-10 hours, then squeeze out excess moisture.
- Poke air holes in the lid or leave the bag slightly open.
- Add the cherry seeds and leave them undisturbed for two weeks at a stable temperature. Check after a day or two to remove excess water, then inspect weekly and discard any moldy seeds.
Switch to cold, moist material. Next, you need to make the cherry seeds "think" they’re experiencing winter. This cold stratification method is similar to the previous step but with a few changes:
- You can still use sphagnum moss, but peat moss or a 50/50 mix of peat moss and sand works best. Vermiculite is also effective.
- Add enough water to moisten the material without making it soggy, then add the seeds.
- Place them in the refrigerator or another location with temperatures between 0.5 and 5ºC (ideally at the lower end of this range).
Refrigerate for about 90 days. Most cherry varieties require a cold treatment for 3 months before planting, with some needing up to 5 months. Check the seeds weekly. Remove any standing water or add more if the material dries out.
- Increase checks as the cold stratification period ends. If the seed's hard outer shell begins to crack, you can plant them immediately or lower the temperature to 0ºC until you're ready to plant.
Plant in spring. Once the last heavy frost of late spring has passed, you can plant cherry trees in the ground. Read the next section for detailed instructions.
- If you want an early start, you can plant them in large pots indoors.
Sowing cherry seeds
Choose a location with good soil. Cherry trees need plenty of sunlight and good air circulation. They prefer sandy, fertile soil with excellent drainage and a neutral or slightly acidic pH.
- Seedlings require space for their taproots to grow. If planting in pots, use containers at least 20 cm deep.
- Cherry trees struggle in clay soil. If determined to plant, consider building a raised garden bed about 30 cm high.
Plant seeds 2.5-5 cm deep. Use your finger to create a hole about one knuckle deep and place a cherry seed inside. Space the seeds 30 cm apart, but be prepared to transplant surviving seedlings about 6 meters apart.
- You can sow seeds closer together but will need to thin them out once they grow to about 5 cm tall.
Adjust soil cover based on the season. If planting in autumn, cover the seeds with a 2.5–5 cm layer of sand to prevent soil freezing, which can hinder sprouting. For spring planting, simply fill the hole with soil level to the ground.
Protect seeds from rodents. If sowing seeds directly into garden soil instead of pots, they become prime targets for digging animals. Place a metal mesh or wire cloth over the planting area, fold the edges, and press them a few centimeters into the ground to create a barrier. Remove this barrier once the first sprouts emerge.
Water occasionally after the last frost. Lightly water the seeds after the final frost has passed. Only water when the soil is nearly dry. Young cherry trees cannot tolerate waterlogged soil but also struggle with prolonged dryness.
Wait for germination. Cherry seeds germinate slowly. If you’ve used both warm and cold stratification methods, sprouts may appear within a few months. However, some seeds might take up to a year to germinate and emerge in the following spring.
Caring for young cherry trees
Maintain slightly moist soil. Ensure the soil remains damp but not waterlogged. As the cherry tree establishes its taproot, check the soil at a depth of about 3 inches and water when it feels dry. Use drip irrigation to moisten the soil to the depth of the roots. Initially, this won’t take much time, but remember to adjust as the cherry tree grows.
Replant when the tree is sturdy. Once the tree reaches a height of about 6 inches or is large enough for its roots to compete or touch the bottom of the pot, provide more space. You can remove the weakest plants or transplant them separately. Each tree should be spaced about 20 feet apart. Remember, the best time for replanting is during dormancy, typically in winter. Transplanting during active growth can stress the tree and potentially kill it.
- Keep in mind that cherry trees can grow between 25 to 50 feet tall, depending on the variety. You can maintain their height below 50 feet through pruning.
Apply mulch annually. Spread a layer of well-rotted compost mulch each year in early spring. Begin mulching after the tree sprouts, as mulch can prevent seedlings from emerging.
- Avoid using fertilizer on young trees, as they are highly susceptible to fertilizer burn. Compost can provide ample nutrients for growth.
Protect the tree from pests. The biggest challenge in growing cherry trees is their vulnerability to diseases and animal damage. Follow these steps to safeguard your tree:
- Enclose young trees with wire mesh to deter deer. Do this as soon as the tree begins to grow.
- Monthly, inspect for holes in the trunk oozing sap or sawdust-like frass. Insert a pin into these holes to kill borers.
- In spring, wrap burlap around the trunk to prevent insects from laying eggs.
- In late fall, install a metal mesh fence about 2 inches deep around the tree to deter rodents. Ensure the fence is tall enough to block rodents standing on snowdrifts in winter.
Shield the tree from winter sun. In early fall, paint the south-facing side of the trunk with non-toxic white latex paint diluted with water. The tree is highly susceptible to sun damage during this period.
- Paint the north side of the trunk instead if you live in the southern hemisphere.
Prune mature cherry trees. Pruning cherry trees is relatively simple and enhances both fruit production and aesthetic appeal. Generally, sour cherry varieties require minimal pruning to maintain symmetrical branches. For sweet cherry trees, trim the central leader to encourage lateral growth and a bushier structure.
Consider grafting. Left to grow naturally, cherry trees often take five years or more to bear fruit, if they fruit at all. Grafting can be a bit risky for trees grown from seeds, as the variety is uncertain, but nurseries can recommend fruit-bearing cultivars. Grafting onto a two-year-old tree may yield fruit by the third or fourth year if successful.
Pollinate the flowers. The beautiful blossoms alone are reason enough to grow cherry trees. However, if you want cherries to replace the flowers, pollination is essential. Most sweet cherry varieties require another cherry tree nearby that blooms simultaneously. Honeybees are the primary pollinators, so avoid pesticides that harm these vital insects.
Deter birds. Growing cherries often means sharing the harvest with birds. If your tree bears fruit, take steps to protect it before the cherries ripen. Methods to distract or scare birds include planting mulberry trees (which birds prefer) and hanging shiny objects from the branches.
- Gardeners also use netting to prevent birds and other animals from feasting on the fruit.
Advice
- To ensure cherry trees bear fruit, it's generally necessary to have two sweet cherry varieties for cross-pollination. Sour cherry trees, however, are often self-pollinating.
- Cherry trees can take 7-8 years to produce fruit, so consider planting new trees annually. This strategy provides backup trees in case some die before maturing.
- Yellow cherry varieties are less attractive to birds but may take 6 years or more to fruit.
Warning
- Do not plant cherry seeds directly in the ground during summer or spring. While all seeds will endure winter, the lack of stratification will prevent them from sprouting in spring.
What You Need
- Cherries
- Ground sphagnum moss
- Sand
- Peat moss
- Refrigerator
- Plastic or metal container
- Planting pots or garden soil
- High-quality soil
