Where do I begin to grow a cherry tree (prunus avium) from seed?
Beautiful wild cherry. I have two next to my garden but not in it. The seeds have multiple dormancy built in to them. This is why they are so difficult to germinate. It is the trees way of making sure it does not create a forest of saplings around itself. The seeds need to be picked whilst still on the tree (ripe) just as they ripen but before the first dormancy triggers kick in which is the shell hardening. They then need cold stratification for a period of 2-3 months. This is best done in a cold frame to protect from mice. They are even then quite hard to germinate as they also need the correct light. This is also meant to stop them germinating too close to the parent. If the light is wrong, as it would be beneath the canopy of another tree, the seed will not germinate. The seed can take upto 18 months to actually germinate even if you get all the other steps right!
I believe the reason you’ll find most people suggesting buying the saplings, is because they’re generally grown grafted on a stronger varieties’ rootstock. Many times, a fruit or berry has been hybridized for certain qualities, but the rootstock of the mother plant is not typically strong enough to support it. Anyhow, cherry “stones” like many other fruits and berries, require cold for a certain amount of time. Typically, in a controlled condition (done by you, instead of nature) this is done by placing it in a damp (not wet) paper towel, placing that in a plastic bag, and putting it in the refrigerator for 5 months. This process is called “stratification”, and is something that the seed requires to “trigger” it into knowing that the correct seasons have passed for it to start growing when you plant it. From what I understand, you’ll also get better results if you A) place the pits in warm (not hot) water for 24 hours before placing them in the fridge, and B) When you are ready to grow
