Can I plant the seeds from a bag of cherries I just ate, and expect a fruit-bearing tree to spring up?

Question

Is it that simple? Do you need to do something to the seeds, like - maybe dry them out for awhile first? Will the seeds grow into a tree if planted? Will the tree bear fruit eventually? How long should it take? What else would you need to do?

Answer 1

You can but you may not get what you expect since it will be the product of the two parents instead of an identical tree. If you will get fruit depends on what type of cherry it is and if there are any other cherry trees around. Sweet cherries, the ones you commonly eat out of a bag require a different variety of cherry to pollinate them. Sour cherries (usually used in baking, think cherry pies) are self-pollinating. If there was another sweet cherry variety around to give pollen then you could expect some cherries in about 5 years. Even if there isn't another cherry tree around to pollinate they do make attractive trees so you may want to plop that pit in the ground anyway.

Answer 2

I have read and have found that you need to store them in the refrigerator for a while. That is any "fresh" seed.

They need to simulate a "winter" with the cold. There is some chemical process that occurs I have been told. Then when they warm up they will think it is spring and sprout.

I found this to be true with pepper seeds I tried to sprout. I had no success until I chilled them for a few weeks.

But most fruit trees take the fruiting tree and they cut off a branch then graft it on to a "wild" tree of the same species. This grows better roots and makes for a stronger tree.

Growing from seed works. But it is worth the money to buy a grafted tree if you are going to invest the water, fertilizer, land, and work in to your tree over the years.  

With buying a tree you will get fruit years sooner. Yet, growing from seed is fun and you can tell people it was from seed.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Your cherry seed would probably grow as long as it was not refrigerated and I don't it really matters if you dry it out or not. It should still grow.

It would probably take a few weeks or about a month for it to start growing cherries. If it grows you have to start watering every day, keep pests off, watch for diseases it might catch and make sure it grows properly.

Answer 4

You probably could, but it might not be the type of cherry tree that does well where you live. Plus, it takes a long time for it to get to the size to produce cherries itself. You'd be better off buying a nice sized tree to begin with and have a head start on the growing. Plus, you would know if it would do well in your area. Good luck :)