Planting cherry pits from store-bought cherries is not recommended for several reasons. First and foremost, supermarket cherries are often refrigerated after harvesting, which can negatively affect the viability of the seeds. The cold temperatures can damage the seeds and reduce their chances of germination. Therefore, if you plant these seeds, there is a higher likelihood that they may not sprout or produce healthy trees.
Moreover, when you buy cherries from a supermarket, you may not have any information about the specific variety or origin of the cherries. This lack of information makes it difficult to determine whether the trees grown from these seeds will be suitable for your specific agricultural growing zone. Each region has its own USDA plant hardiness zone, which indicates the climate conditions and temperature ranges that plants can tolerate. It is important to select seeds from cherries that are locally grown and adapted to your specific hardiness zone to ensure the success of your cherry tree.
To maximize the chances of success, it is advisable to select fresh, local cherries from a farmers market or directly from a local orchard. By doing so, you can be more confident that the cherries have not undergone refrigeration and have been recently harvested. Fresh cherries are more likely to contain viable seeds that have not been damaged by cold temperatures.
When harvesting seeds from fresh cherries, it is essential to properly clean and prepare them for planting. Remove the seeds from the cherry flesh, rinse them thoroughly to remove any residual fruit, and allow them to dry for a few days. Once the seeds are dry, they can be stored in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant them.
Before planting the cherry seeds, it is crucial to determine the appropriate planting time for your specific hardiness zone. Cherry seeds typically require a period of cold stratification, which mimics the winter conditions necessary for germination. This process can be achieved by placing the seeds in a moist medium, such as peat moss or vermiculite, and refrigerating them for a few months. After the stratification period, the seeds can be planted in well-draining soil and kept moist until they germinate.
It is important to note that growing cherry trees from seeds is a slow and uncertain process. Even under ideal conditions, it can take several years for the trees to reach maturity and produce fruit. Additionally, trees grown from seeds may not necessarily retain the characteristics of the parent tree. They can exhibit a wide range of traits, including variations in fruit size, flavor, and disease resistance.
While it is technically possible to plant cherry pits from store-bought cherries, it is not recommended due to the potential damage caused by refrigeration and the uncertainty surrounding the suitability of the trees for your specific hardiness zone. To increase the chances of success and ensure the growth of healthy cherry trees, it is best to obtain fresh, local cherries from known varieties and harvest the seeds from those fruits.
