Growing cherries from the stone: at home and in the open field

Gardening is an exciting hobby that will provide not only interesting leisure time, but also allow you to taste the fruits of your labors. It is quite possible to grow a cherry from a stone if you know how to properly prepare the seed material, plant it, and what conditions the seedlings need to create. Using this method, you can get any variety of cherry in your garden. This is especially convenient in cases where it is not possible to get a seedling from the nursery.

Growing cherries from seed is a long process

Will a cherry grow from a seed?

Propagation of cherries by seeds is a natural process. In nature, many varieties germinate by self-seeding. This process usually takes a long time. In order to grow a fruit-bearing tree from a cherry seed, gardeners should be patient in advance and not expect too much as a result.

In nature, berry trees reproduce by self-seeding.

Harvest volumes will be significantly less, however, with the right approach, you can get a strong healthy tree that will delight with beautiful flowering and tasty fruits. Even if the result is not what was intended, a true gardener will get a lot of pleasure from the growing process and will definitely take into account the mistakes made.

Pros and cons of breeding cherries with seeds

There are several ways to grow fruit trees and shrubs. Each of them has both advantages and disadvantages.

The positive aspects of growing cherries from the stone:

1. The possibility of further use of a young tree as a stock. This is how varieties are obtained that cannot be rooted in any other way.
2. A large number of wild cherry seedlings can be obtained in a relatively short time.
3. Even if the tree freezes, its roots will remain viable, while the grafted cherry will immediately die.
4. Gardeners grow specific varieties of cherries in this way.
5. Trees adapt well to the weather conditions of a certain region.
6. A convenient way to continue breeding work.

From the seeds you can immediately get a lot of sprouts

This growing method also has its drawbacks:

1. Irregular and poor harvest.
2. In some cases, the fruits become smaller and lose their taste characteristics.
3. The crop begins to ripen only 5-7 years after planting, in some cases later.

When to sow cherries with seeds

The most suitable time is autumn (October) or early spring. In the first case, the planting material will have time to exfoliate well during the winter and it will be better to sprout. During spring planting, seeds undergo a two-month stratification period.

In summer or winter, cherry pits are planted in pre-prepared pots. With the advent of spring, the seedling is transferred to the garden. This method is commonly used to grow cherry bonsai.

How much does a cherry from the stone grow

Cherry pits take time to germinate. This takes approximately 5 weeks. The process of growing cherries is gradual, it requires patience. In one season, the tree, on average, grows by 50 cm. The first flowering and fruit set occurs only in the 4th year.

The bone sprouts for more than a month

Step-by-step instructions on how to grow a cherry from a stone

First you need to choose the right planting material. To do this, take only the most ripe and large berries. The bones are carefully removed and poured into a colander. Then they are washed under running water to free them from the remnants of the pulp. After all the water has drained, the bones are transferred to clean newspapers, paper towels or absorbent cloth.

Planting material is dried in a shaded place, after leveling all the bones in one layer. Ready seeds are placed in a breathable paper bag, additionally wrapped in plastic wrap and kept until planting in a warm place at a temperature of no more than + 20 ° C.

Cherry pits must first be washed and dried

You should also consider the following rules:

1. Before planting, all bones must undergo a stratification procedure. This will help speed up their germination and make them resistant to temperature extremes.
2. You can plant cherry seeds directly in open ground or grow seedlings at home, choosing flower pots or convenient boxes as containers. In the latter case, you can easily control the condition of the sprouts and not be afraid that they will suffer in the winter.
3. Now the sprout needs careful care.

This is a schematic instruction for growing cherries from their pits. In the following, the various landing methods will be discussed in more detail.

How to plant a cherry seed at home

To plant cherry seeds, it is better to choose autumn or spring. It is very important for cherries to choose the right soil. Ideally, if it is possible to use the garden soil in which the mother tree grew. So the bone will receive all the necessary nutrients in which the fetus itself has grown. If this is not possible, you can purchase ordinary soil for seedlings in a specialized store. Another important point is the size of the pot. A large container is not required, a volume of 0,5 liters is sufficient.

The bone planting technique looks like this:

1. Pots are filled with ready-made soil mixture, taking care of drainage in advance.
2. Small indentations are made in the ground (maximum 3 cm each) and planting material is placed in them. Holes are usually made with a thin stick or finger.
3. From above they are carefully sprinkled with earth and rammed. It is best to water the plantings from a spray bottle or so that the water flows down the wall of the container.
4. Next, you need to ensure that the soil is not overdried. Additionally, you can make a greenhouse using plexiglass or a regular transparent bag. The containers are placed on a well-lit windowsill in a warm room. After 3-5 weeks, you can see the first shoots.

Growing cherries from the stone in open ground

This method is easier in terms of planting care, and also does not cause unnecessary stress to the tree, since the seedling will not need to be replanted. It is necessary to immediately choose a permanent place for future cherries. Planting material is pre-hardened and prepared for rapid germination. Planting technique is almost the same as potting. Only the place where the bone was planted must be marked.

The sprouts are thinned out, leaving only the strongest and most viable. The distance between them should be at least 5 m. The roots should be given enough space so that they can actively develop.

How to care for sprouts

At home, sprouts are cared for in the same way as indoor flowers. They need regular watering with warm water and loosening of the topsoil. They do this so that the earth is not taken with a hard crust, otherwise oxygen and nutrients will not be supplied to the roots. It is not worth loosening too deeply, so as not to injure the fragile root system. Periodically make top dressing in the form of organic tinctures, but not fresh organics. You also need to inspect the sprouts for diseases and pests. At the slightest problem, both chemical and natural remedies are used. Cherries that have reached a year or two years are transferred to the garden.

Cherry sprouts should be watered regularly, periodically adding organic fertilizers.

Outdoor care is a little easier. It is necessary to water and loosen the soil in a timely manner, fight weeds and apply fertilizers. Two-year-old trees begin to form a crown, making a health-improving spring pruning. It is very important to properly prepare the cherry for the cold. In autumn, the tree is watered abundantly (up to 8 liters of liquid per plant). Before winter, the roots must be covered and the trunk circles should be mulched. In regions with a harsh climate, the trunk and crown are additionally insulated with burlap.

Will a cherry grown from a stone bear fruit?

The palatability and abundance of harvests are usually not as high as those of cherries grown from seedlings. But if you follow all the rules of planting and proper care, you can get a good result.

In the country, it will not work to grow cherries from a store-bought berry seed; it is best to harvest planting material from garden fruits. To consolidate a positive result, any cultivar you like is grafted onto the seedling.

Cherry from the stone will not give a large harvest

Tips from experienced gardeners

Experienced gardeners when growing cherries recommend following some rules:

1. When choosing a variety, you need to take into account the characteristics of the climate.
2. Trees need to be planted next to pollinating varieties in order to achieve a good harvest.
3. It is impossible to deepen the bone too much into the ground.
4. In dry summers, cherries are watered more abundantly than usual.
5. Acidic soils need to be enriched with minerals.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to grow a cherry from a seed, and a tree planted by oneself is a special pride of the gardener. Constant care and the creation of ideal growing conditions will help preserve the taste of the varietal crop and achieve high stable yields. Berries grown in your own garden are always tastier and healthier.