How to Grow Cherry Tree From Seed: What You Need to Know
Cherry trees are some of the most beautiful trees that you can grow. Their leaves are often a beautiful pink color, and for many, the most rewarding part is the fruit that grows from the tree – the delicious cherry. While cherry trees can make a great addition to your property if you want to improve your home’s curb appeal, growing one isn’t always easy.
Sure, you can go with the nursery experience and get a tree that already has some years behind it, but if you want to experience the full beauty of a cherry tree at every stage, you have to start with the seeds. The process will take a while, but it pays off in the end. Read on to learn more about how to grow a cherry tree from seed.
What Is a Cherry Tree?
First and foremost, it’s important to know what a cherry tree is. These are trees that belong to the Prunus genus, and you’ll find both sweet and sour cherries. The sweet cherries are a darker red and have a delicious, sweet flavor. Typically, these cherries are eaten raw, found in desserts, and they’re even a popular choice for many cocktails.
On the other hand, sour cherries are more tart, and you may have a tough time eating them raw due to their acidity. However, you’ll find that sour cherries work great in desserts to balance out the flavor.
Typically, sweet cherry trees take longer to grow than their sour counterparts, especially from seeds. However, they often get bigger and tend to be the ones that look the best aesthetically.
How to Grow Cherry Tree From Seed
Growing a cherry tree from seeds doesn’t require a special talent or even a green thumb. Instead, all you need are the right tools, enough space, and a little bit of patience. We take you through the steps you need to follow to grow a cherry tree from seeds below.
1. Get Your Hands on Cherry Seeds
The first part of the process is getting ready to plant your cherry seeds. Make sure you have a plot that can accommodate the cherry tree. If you have a dwarf cherry tree, you only need around 10 to 15 feet of space. However, for standard cherry trees, you’ll need a little more room – roughly 20 to 25 feet.
You’ll also need the necessary tools to get the job done. Make sure you have basic gardening tools, nutrient-dense soil that’s loaded with phosphorus and potassium, and a steady supply of water. Also, make sure you source the cherry seeds from a reputable source like California Trees.
2. Prepare Your Cherry Seeds
The next part of the process involves getting your seeds ready to plant. If you’re taking the seeds from existing cherries, you’ll need to remove the pits, clean them, and crack the outer shell open to access the seeds. Then, soak the seeds in warm water for a few hours before planting them. This ensures that they’re properly hydrated before you place them in the soil.
3. Mimic the Dormancy Period for Cherry Seeds
For the next step, you need to get a bit creative because before cherry seeds start growing, they need to go dormant. We recommend wrapping them in a damp towel to keep them hydrated and then placing them in a plastic bag for storage. Then, place the bag of seeds in your fridge for two to three months.
4. Plant Your Cherry Tree Seeds
Now it’s time for the fun part: planting your cherry tree seeds. Remove them from the fridge and then look for your plot. Once you know where you’re putting them, place them in the soil; one inch below the surface is optimal. From there, water the soil until it’s moist, but be careful not to oversaturate it. Last but not least, make sure you keep the environment warm and ensure that the tree has access to sunlight.
5. Monitor Your Cherry Seeds
Last but not least, it’s time to monitor your cherry seeds. Keep the soil moist and wait for the seeds to germinate, which happens after a month or two (on average). Once the seeds germinate you’ll start to see them poking through the soil. At this time, make sure they have plenty of sunlight.
Understanding How to Grow Cherry Tree From Seed
Growing a cherry tree from seed is one of the most rewarding things that you can do. While the process takes a long time, it’s almost always worth the wait because they’re some of the most beautiful trees out there. Plus, the fruit is delicious, especially if you grow it yourself.
That said, it’s important to note that there are a lot of variables in play when growing a cherry tree. Do your best to use high-quality seeds and keep conditions optimal (lots of sunlight and moist, nutrient-dense soil) for the best results.
