Content
- 1 Will a cherry grow from a pit?
- 2 Pros and cons of propagating cherries with pits
- 3 When to sow cherry pits
- 4 How long does a cherry grow from a pit?
- 5 Step-by-step instructions on how to grow cherries from pits
- 6 How to care for sprouts
- 7 Will cherries grown from seed bear fruit?
- 8 Advice from experienced gardeners
- 9 Conclusion
Gardening is an exciting hobby that will not only provide you with interesting leisure time, but will also allow you to taste the fruits of your labors. Growing cherries from pits is quite possible if you know how to properly prepare seed material, plant it, and what conditions need to be created for the seedlings. Using this method, you can get any variety of cherries in your garden. This is especially convenient in cases where it is not possible to get a seedling from a nursery.
Growing cherries from pits is a long process.
Will a cherry grow from a pit?
Cherry propagation by seeds is a natural process. In nature, many varieties germinate by self-sowing. This process usually takes quite a long time. In order to grow a fruit-bearing tree from a cherry pit, gardeners should be patient in advance and not expect too much as a result.
In nature, berry trees reproduce by self-sowing
The harvest volumes will be significantly smaller, but with the right approach you can get a strong, healthy tree that will delight you with beautiful flowering and tasty fruits. Even if the result turns out not to be as 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 propagating cherries with pits
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 stones:
- Possibility of further use of the young tree as a rootstock. This is how varieties are obtained that cannot be rooted in any other way.
- A large number of wild cherry seedlings can be obtained in a relatively short period of time.
- Even if the tree freezes, its roots will remain viable, whereas a grafted cherry will immediately die.
- Gardeners grow specific varieties of cherries using this method.
- Trees adapt well to the weather conditions of a particular region.
- A convenient way to continue breeding work.
You can get a lot of sprouts from seeds at once
This growing method also has its disadvantages:
- Irregular and poor harvest.
- In some cases, the fruits become smaller and lose their taste characteristics.
- The harvest begins to ripen only 5-7 years after planting, in some cases later.
When to sow cherry pits
The most suitable time is autumn (October) or early spring.In the first case, the planting material will have time to stratify well over the winter and will sprout better. When planted in spring, the seeds undergo a two-month stratification period.
In summer or winter, cherry pits are planted in pre-prepared pots. With the arrival of spring, the seedling is transferred to the garden. This method is usually used to grow cherry bonsai.
How long does a cherry grow from a pit?
It takes time to germinate a cherry pit. This takes approximately 5 weeks. The process of growing cherries is gradual and requires patience. In one season, the tree gains an average of 50 cm in height. The first flowering and fruit set occurs only in the 4th year.
The seed germinates for more than a month
Step-by-step instructions on how to grow cherries from pits
First you need to select the right planting material. For this, only the ripest and largest berries are taken. The bones are carefully removed and poured into a colander. They are then washed under running water to remove any remaining pulp. After all the water has drained, the bones are transferred to clean newspapers, paper towels or absorbent fabric.
The planting material is dried in a shaded place, having first leveled all the seeds into one layer. The finished seeds are placed in a breathable paper bag, additionally wrapped in plastic film and kept in a warm place at a temperature not exceeding + 20 ° C until planting.
The cherry pits must first be washed and dried.
The following rules should also be taken into account:
- Before planting, all seeds must undergo a stratification procedure. This will help speed up their germination and make them resistant to temperature changes.
- You can plant cherry pits 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 winter.
- Now the sprout requires careful care.
This is a schematic instruction for growing cherries from their pits. Next, various planting methods will be discussed in more detail.
How to plant cherry pits at home
To plant cherry seeds, it is better to choose autumn or spring. It is very important to choose the right soil for cherries. Ideally, it is possible to use the garden soil in which the mother tree grew. This way the seed will receive all the necessary nutrients in which the fruit itself grew. If this is not possible, you can purchase regular soil for seedlings at a specialized store. Another important point is the size of the pot. Large containers are not required; a volume of 0.5 liters is sufficient.
The technique for planting a seed looks like this:
- The pots are filled with ready-made soil mixture, taking care of drainage in advance.
- Small depressions are made in the ground (maximum 3 cm) and planting material is placed in them. The holes are usually made with a thin stick or finger.
- They are carefully sprinkled with earth on top and compacted. It is best to water the plantings using a spray bottle or so that the water flows down the wall of the container.
- Next, you need to make sure that the soil is not too dry. 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 pits in open ground
This method is simpler in terms of caring for plantings, and also does not cause unnecessary stress to the tree, since the seedling will not need to be replanted. It is necessary to immediately select a permanent place for the future cherry tree. Pre-harden the planting material and prepare it for rapid germination. The planting technique is almost no different from potting. Only the place where the seed was planted must be marked.
The sprouts are thinned out, leaving only the strongest and most viable ones. 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 top layer of soil. This is done so that the soil does not form a hard crust, otherwise oxygen and nutrients will not reach the roots. You should not loosen too deeply, so as not to injure the fragile root system. Fertilizers are periodically applied in the form of organic tinctures, but not fresh organic matter. You also need to inspect the sprouts for diseases and pests. For the slightest problems, use both chemical and natural remedies. Cherries that are one or two years old are transferred to the garden.
Cherry sprouts should be watered regularly, periodically adding organic fertilizers
In open ground, maintenance 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, undergoing health-improving spring pruning. It is very important to properly prepare cherries for cold weather. In autumn, the tree is watered abundantly (up to 8 liters of liquid per plant). Before winter, the roots must be covered and the tree trunk circles mulched. In regions with harsh climates, the trunk and crown are additionally insulated with burlap.
Will cherries grown from seed bear fruit?
The taste and abundance of harvests are usually not as high as those of cherries grown from seedlings. But if you follow all the planting rules and proper care, you can get a good result.
At the dacha, it is not possible to grow cherries from the seeds of store-bought berries; it is best to harvest planting material from garden fruits. To consolidate the positive result, any cultivar of your choice is grafted onto the seedling.
Cherry from the pit will not give a large harvest
Advice from experienced gardeners
Experienced gardeners recommend following some rules when growing cherries:
- When choosing a variety, you need to take into account the climate.
- Trees need to be planted next to pollinating varieties to achieve a good harvest.
- You cannot bury the seed too far into the ground.
- In dry summers, cherries are watered more abundantly than usual.
- Acidic soils need to be enriched with minerals.
Conclusion
It is not difficult to grow a cherry tree from a seed, and a tree planted with one’s own hands is a special source of pride for the gardener. Constant care and 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.
