It is technically possible to grow a tree from the pit found inside a store-bought cherry. The stone, or pit, contains the seed, which has the genetic material necessary to sprout and grow into a full tree. While this attempt is a common gardening experiment, successfully cultivating a productive fruit-bearing tree from a supermarket cherry pit is a lengthy process with highly uncertain outcomes. The resulting tree will not be an exact replica of the one that produced the fruit you ate. This makes the process more of a genetic gamble than a reliable method for fruit production.
The Genetic Reality: Why Store-Bought Cherries Won’t Grow True to Type
Commercial cherry trees are propagated through grafting, not by planting seeds, because they do not grow “true-to-type” from seed. A cherry grown from a pit is the result of sexual reproduction. This means the seed carries a blend of genetic material from two parent trees, not a clone of the single parent tree that bore the fruit. The resulting seedling is considered an F2 generation hybrid, displaying a new, unpredictable set of characteristics unlike the fruit’s original cultivar.
High-quality sweet cherries, such as ‘Bing’ or ‘Rainier’, are the product of decades of selective breeding. Their consistent traits are only maintained by grafting a desirable branch, or scion, onto a hardy rootstock. When a seed from one of these fruits is planted, the new tree will likely revert to more wild characteristics. This often results in a tree that produces smaller, less sweet fruit, or fruit that is unpalatably sour or bitter. The practice of planting a pit is essentially a low-stakes breeding experiment, where the odds of producing a commercially desirable fruit are extremely low.
Preparing the Pit for Germination
Before the seed can sprout, the pit must be thoroughly prepared to ensure successful germination. The first step involves removing the hard outer shell, which can speed up the process and reduce the risk of mold. The inner seed must be carefully extracted without damaging the soft kernel inside.
After extraction, the seed needs to be cleaned to remove all traces of fruit residue. Remaining pulp contains sugars that promote fungal or bacterial growth, which can quickly rot the seed. The cleaned seeds should then be placed in water for a simple viability test, often called the “float test.” Seeds that are plump and healthy will sink, while non-viable or empty seeds will float and should be discarded. The remaining viable seeds must be air-dried for two to five days before proceeding.
Simulating Winter: The Stratification Requirement
Cherry seeds, like many temperate fruit seeds, possess an internal mechanism known as seed dormancy that prevents them from germinating during the fall. To break this dormancy, the seed must undergo a period of cold, moist conditions known as cold stratification, which mimics the natural winter season. This process triggers hormonal changes that signal to the seed that spring has arrived.
For at-home stratification, the seeds should be placed in a sealed plastic bag or container mixed with a moist medium, such as peat moss, sand, or vermiculite. The medium should be damp but not soaking wet, as excess moisture encourages mold. This sealed container needs to be stored in a refrigerator at a consistent temperature between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The chilling period must last a minimum of 10 to 12 weeks. Interrupting this precise requirement or failing to reach the required duration will significantly reduce the likelihood of germination.
Planting, Care, and the Long Wait for Fruit
Once stratification is complete, the seeds are ready to be planted in small pots filled with well-draining potting mix, about one inch deep. The pots should be placed in a warm location that receives bright, indirect light. The soil must be kept consistently moist to encourage the seed to sprout. Germination can occur relatively quickly, often within a few weeks, but it can sometimes take longer.
When the seedlings reach a height of 6 to 12 inches, they can be gradually introduced to outdoor conditions in a process called “hardening off” before being transplanted. Cherry trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least eight hours of direct sunlight daily, and prefer deep, well-drained soil with a neutral pH. General care involves regular watering and protective mulching around the base to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. The most significant commitment is the time required before the tree may produce fruit. A cherry tree grown from seed can take anywhere from five to ten years to reach maturity before it has the capacity to flower and bear fruit.