How to Plant From a Cherry Pit

Grow your own cherry tree.

Planting a cherry pit is not always successful and will not always produce a fruit-bearing plant. It can be an interesting and educational experience and will teach you a lot about growing a tree. And if it does bear fruit, you will have a source of delicious cherries right in your own yard. Growing a tree from a pit will take some time but is worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

• Cherry pits
• Paper towels
• Jar
• Sand
• Water

Instructions

1. Remove all pulp from the pits and wash them thoroughly. Lay them out on a paper towel and allow them to air dry for several days.

2. Place the pits in a glass jar and cover loosely with a paper towel. Store the jar in the refrigerator and leave it untouched for eight to 12 weeks.

3. Remove the pits from the jar and place a layer of damp sand in the jar. Bury the pits in the sand and place them back into the refrigerator.

4. Plant the pits after all danger of frost has passed. Dig a small hole that is twice the size of the pit. For example, a pit that is 1/2 inch long will need a hole that is 1 inch deep.

5. Cover the pit with sand rather than soil. Sand will promote germination and be easier for a seedling to push through.

6. Keep the pit well watered so that it is always damp but never soaked. Soaking the soil will cause the pit to rot.

7. Look for growth. Some pits will take up to a year to properly germinate, but in most instances you will see growth after two or three months.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are worried about squirrels or rabbits digging up the pits, push a bit of metal screen or hardware cloth into the sand over the pit.

• Once a tree is 2 years old, it is safe to dig it up to transplant it.

References

• Online Tips: Planting a Cherry Pit