Can I plant cherry seeds from grocery store cherries? Will they germinate?
Question:I love these cherries I get from my grocery store and would like to produce a cherry tree from them. How would I go about doing this?
Answers:
I found this link that covers growing cherry trees in detail.
"Growing cherries in home plantings is frequently very disappointing. The foliage and fruit are susceptible to injury by several insects and diseases, making several timely spray applications necessary to produce sound fruit. Birds frequently consume the fruit as it begins to color, but before it is fully mature, and covering the tree with cheesecloth or other netting material is the only effective method of saving the crop from them. All of these factors render growing cherries in a home garden very disheartening! However, all of these problems seem minor at the first cherry crop.
When selecting a tree, it is important to know the pollination requirements of the variety you intend to plant. At least 2 varieties of sweet cherries require pollination, while sour cherry trees pollinate themselves and therefore need only one tree for fruit production. Although nurseries sell both one- and two-year-old trees, it is best to opt for one-year-old trees; they are easier to establish. Trees should be unpacked immediately upon arrival, and should be planted as soon as possible. If early spring planting must be delayed, heel in the trees temporarily by laying them in a shallow trench in the and covering the roots with soil to keep them moist. This is very important, as drying of the tree roots before planting is a major factor in tree losses."
You should buy a tree from a nursery, since most cherries and other fruit trees are hybrids and most of them are grafted.
You may be able to get a seed to germinate, but it might not produce any fruit or the same fruit from the cherry it came from.
Also, most cherries need a cross-pollinator, so you won't get cherries from a single tree. You need 2-3 trees at least, of different varieties.
PS- I grow cherries in my backyard and they do fine--I have three trees. The rootstock used today makes it possible to have smaller trees (average of 15 ft), which is "doable" for the home gardener. You should just go to a good nursery to get good stock and listen to their advice. Today's gardening "technology" has gotten better and it is now possible for home gardeners to grow plants and trees previously left to the pros and mass producers.
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