The Reality of Growing From a Pit
Growing a fruit tree from a leftover pit is a classic gardening experiment. While peach and avocado pits get most of the attention, you can also cultivate a cherry tree from seed.
Expect a long wait. Cherry trees grown from a pit take seven to 10 years to produce fruit, if they ever do at all. By contrast, nursery saplings typically bear fruit in just four years.
A tree grown from seed will not be an exact genetic copy of its parent. It will also be more susceptible to disease than a commercial grafted sapling. Still, successfully germinating a cherry pit yields beautiful, pollinator-attracting spring blossoms.
Choosing the Right Seed
Skip the supermarket produce aisle. Grocery store cherries are often shipped from different climates and lack the freshness required for reliable germination.
Instead, buy cherries from a local farmer’s market. Locally grown fruit is already adapted to your specific USDA growing zone. If you plan to keep your tree in a container, hunt for dwarf or semi-dwarf cherry varieties.
How to Prep and Germinate the Pit
Step 1: Clean and Dry
Once you finish eating, scrub the pit thoroughly with water to remove all fruit residue. Dry it completely to prevent mold growth.
Leave the cleaned pit on a paper towel in a warm, shaded spot out of direct sunlight for several days. For faster germination, you can carefully cut open the pit, extract the inner seed, and soak it in warm water for a few hours.
Step 2: Cold Stratification
Cherry pits cannot be planted immediately. They require cold stratification to break dormancy, a process that mimics a harsh winter chill.
Wrap the pit in a damp paper towel and seal it inside a plastic bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator for 10 to 12 weeks. Check the bag every week or two to ensure the towel remains damp and mold-free.
Step 3: Initial Potting
Fill a small container with well-draining potting soil. Plant the pit exactly one inch below the surface.
Water the soil until moist, but avoid making it soggy. Place the pot in a sunny window and wait. Germination can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.
Planting Your Cherry Tree Outdoors
Plant your seedling outdoors in early spring or late fall. Cherry trees thrive in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
They require excellent air circulation and a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily. Avoid planting them near large shade trees that will steal their light.
- Wait until the seedling reaches six to 12 inches tall and all frost danger has passed.
- Harden off the young tree by placing it outside for a few hours daily. Gradually increase its exposure over two weeks to acclimate it.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the current pot, keeping the depth exactly the same. Mix organic material into the native soil to improve drainage.
- Carefully remove the seedling, keeping the roots intact. Place it in the hole so the top of the root system sits level with the surrounding soil.
- Fill the hole, pack the soil down to eliminate air pockets, and water heavily.
- Apply a two- to three-inch layer of shredded bark mulch. Keep the mulch pulled away from the actual trunk to prevent rot.
Growing in a Container
If you live outside Zones 5-9, container growing allows you to move the tree indoors during the fall and winter.
- Select a container 18 to 20 inches wide with ample drainage holes.
- Fill the pot with a well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral potting mix. Stop a few inches below the rim.
- Dig a hole twice as wide as the root mass. Plant the seedling with the top of the roots level with the soil surface.
- Fill in the gaps with soil and water deeply. Position the container in a spot that receives six hours of daily sun and keep the soil consistently moist.
