Can I Plant Cherry Pits to Grow a Tree?

Cherry pits are the seeds that new cherry trees grow from.

Cherry trees grow from seeds, and their seeds are the pits inside the cherries. Gardeners can start their own cherry trees by planting cherry pits, but cherry pits do require some specific techniques to grow.

Time Frame

Cherry tree pits become ready to grow into seeds after the fruits ripen, according to Penn State University Horticulture. Cherries ripen in the spring or summer, then the seeds must chill over the winter. Then they can start growing during the following spring if they're planted right, but they may not have fruit for several years.

Chilling

Iowa State University recommends either allowing cherry pits to chill in the ground during the winter after a fall planting or artificially chilling the seeds in a refrigerator at a temperature between 33 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Both Penn State University and Iowa State University explain that cherries need at least 90 days of chilling before they can grow.

Planting

Plant seeds that have not yet been chilled during the fall. Plant previously chilled seeds indoors in pots anytime or plant them outdoors during the spring. Iowa State University suggests planting cherries 1/2 inch deep in the soil.

Considerations

Since some seeds may not grow for one reason or another, New Mexico State University suggests planting multiple seeds. Plant them in an area with full sun or partial shade, since cherry trees do not grow as well in full shade.

References

• Penn State University Horticulture: Growing New Fruit Tree Plants From Seed
• New Mexico State University: Growing Cherry Pits
• Iowa State University Extension: Germination of Tree Seed