The journey of a cherry from a dormant tree to a ripe fruit involves a series of visual changes, marking the start of its growth long before the fruit is ready to pick. Understanding what the cherry looks like as it begins to grow requires observing the tree’s transition from winter dormancy into the activity of spring. This initial growth phase is a rapid transformation, shifting the tree’s appearance from bare wood to a spectacle of blossoms, and finally to the emergence of the miniature green fruit.
Pre-Bloom Visual Cues
The first sign that a cherry is beginning its growth cycle appears in late winter or early spring as the tree awakens from dormancy. Initially, the flower buds are small, hard, and protected by tight, brown scales on the branch. The earliest visible change is the “swollen bud” stage, where the bud visibly expands as the internal tissues begin to grow.
As temperatures rise, the bud progresses to the “green tip” stage, when the first hint of green tissue becomes visible at the tip of the swelling bud. This indicates that the protective scales have begun to separate. Soon after, the buds enter the “tight cluster” phase, where the individual flower structures are grouped closely together but still tightly enclosed.
The flower buds are nearly entirely green at this point, with a slightly separated tip, preparing to reveal the developing petals inside. The transition culminates in the “white bud” stage, where the tips of the green structures give way to a small glimpse of the white or pale pink petals beneath. This progression of bud swelling and color change provides the earliest visual confirmation that the tree is actively preparing to produce fruit.
The Critical Flowering Stage
The process of fruit formation begins when the “white bud” stage fully opens into the bloom. Cherry blossoms typically appear in clusters, with each flower possessing five delicate petals that range from white to soft pink, depending on the variety. This period, known as full bloom, is a brief visual spectacle where the entire canopy is covered in open flowers.
The purpose of this display is the fertilization of the flower’s ovary, achieved when pollinators transfer pollen between the blooms. If successfully pollinated, the petals soon begin to fade and drop away, marking the end of the flowering period. This “petal fall” is a significant visual cue, indicating that the tree is transitioning to fruit development.
As the petals drop, the remaining flower parts, including the sepals and the developing ovary, are left behind on the stem. This moment of petal shed is the final visual marker before the emergence of the actual fruit structure.
Identifying the Initial Fruit Set
The definitive visual sign that a cherry has started to grow occurs immediately after the petals have fallen and fertilization is complete. The newly formed fruit is revealed as a tiny, hard, green sphere located at the end of a short stem. This miniature cherry is initially very small, often no larger than a pea or BB.
The base of this tiny fruit is still encased in the remnants of the flower, referred to as the “shuck.” As the fruit begins to swell, it pushes against this shuck, which eventually cracks and falls away in a process known as “shuck split” or “husk fall.” The falling away of the shuck reveals the smooth, bright green surface of the newly set fruit.
This small, green sphere is the cherry in its earliest physical form, where cell division is rapid and the fruit begins its expansion. If a flower was not successfully pollinated, the entire structure, including the stem and ovary, will simply turn yellow and drop off the branch. The presence of the small, hard, green orb that sheds its floral remnants confirms that the cherry has successfully begun to grow.