How to plant a cherry tree

The cherry tree, with the scientific name Prunus avium , is a fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family, of great popularity due to its tasty and striking fruit, cherries. It is a species that is not too demanding with its care and that also stands out for resisting the cold better than many other fruit trees.

If you wonder how you can plant a cherry tree to have one at home, both from seed and from a cutting or branch, join us in this Green Ecology article where you will find a guide on how to plant a cherry tree and various related tips.

When to plant cherry trees

¿ What is the best time to plant a cherry tree ? If we are going to plant a young cherry tree , this fruit can be planted, unless living in an exceptionally cold climate, throughout the season between January and the beginning of summer, although the best time is undoubtedly in spring , around the month of May or early June.

If what we are going to do is sow the seeds or cherry pits , it is best to do it at the end of autumn , so that the seeds spend a few months cold to optimize their chances of germination.

How to Plant a Cherry Tree - When to Plant Cherry Trees

How to plant a cherry tree from a stone

To know how to plant a cherry tree with a pit correctly, follow these tips:

  • Planting a cherry pit and getting it to germinate can be very difficult if you use fruits bought in supermarkets or large stores, so it is always advisable to choose cherries from someone you know with a good tree in their orchard or garden, or buy them in small shops. that offer quality and organic cherries , which have not been picked early.
  • Another very useful trick when learning how to germinate a cherry stone is to take the cherry stones, well cleaned of the remains of the fruit, and put them in the refrigerator , wrapped in moistened absorbent paper, for about 8-12 weeks. If you want to plant without having to wait for autumn to arrive, you can thus give the seed conditions similar to those of winter, which will help it germinate.
  • It is convenient to plant several seeds in case some do not germinate, even if you only want a cherry tree.
  • It is also highly recommended to plant in a pot first to better control the conditions of the seed, which will need an airy and sunny place, and transplant it to its final location only when it has grown enough.
  • Also do not forget to keep the seed and the plant in its early stages with the soil always moist , although never waterlogged.

How to plant a cherry tree from a branch

When it comes to how to plant a cherry tree by cutting or branch , the first thing to say is that, like seeds, this method of propagation for the cherry tree may not be successful. In fact, many varieties make it quite difficult to get the cutting to succeed, but there are varieties that greatly improve these chances of success, such as Vladimirskaya, Pink Bottle, Shubinka or Rastunya.

  1. Take the cuttings of a healthy cherry tree in early June, with green branches and about 15 cm in length.
  2. Leave only one sheet for them, or two if they are small.
  3. Leave them overnight soaking in rooting agent , which you can buy or prepare organically yourself, and plant them first thing in the morning.
  4. Bury them about 4 cm in the ground, using a light substrate, with very good drainage and rich in nutrients. A mixture of earthworm humus and river sand can work very well, or humus, peat, and coconut coir . A bed of coarse gravel or expanded clay will further improve substrate drainage.
  5. After this, water frequently but without flooding.
  6. Keep it in a shady place and not less than 24 ºC and, if you are lucky, the cutting will take root in a few weeks and you can already plant it in a pot so that it continues to grow until it is ready to be planted in the ground.
How to plant a cherry tree - How to plant a cherry tree from a branch

How to plant a potted cherry tree

Both from cutting and from seed, it is best to always plant the cherry in a pot initially, to wait for it to germinate, grow and, after a year or two, we can transplant it to its final location outside.

However, we can also decide why the final location of our cherry tree is a larger pot, and that is that, although these fruit trees can reach heights of up to 8 meters in a natural environment, in pot their size will be much smaller.

Wait until the little cherry tree is at least 15 or 20 cm tall and then transplant it, in early spring or late winter , to a larger pot, with the same type of substrate and being very careful not to damage its roots. 

How to plant a cherry tree - How to plant a potted cherry tree

How to make a cherry tree bear fruit

Whenever we plant a fruit tree, we have to prepare ourselves to gather patience since, in many cases, we will have to wait years for it to bear fruit, especially if we do not graft it .

If you wonder how long a cherry tree takes to bear fruit or how long a cherry tree takes to grow , the answer is that it is very rare that you get your first cherries before the tree is 3 years old , and it will take a few longer to reach true maturity and bear fruit in great quantity.

In addition, the amount of fruit that your cherry tree produces will depend a lot on its water, soil and climate conditions. The climate for the most optimal cherry tree is a temperate one, with well differentiated seasons but without very strong frosts. If you give your cherry tree frequent watering, you ensure that it receives at least 8 hours of sunlight a day and you add nutrients to the soil regularly in the growing seasons, your cherry tree should give you its fruits from the age of three.

How to plant a cherry tree

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading