How to grow cherries from the stone at home and is it possible

Cherry is a culture that is one of the first to give its sweet juicy fruits, rich in vitamins. The easiest way to grow a lush tree in the garden is to purchase a ready-made seedling or graft. Many gardeners, especially beginners, are interested in how to grow cherries from the stone at home, how such an experiment will end, whether it will be possible to wait for a good harvest.

Advantages and disadvantages of pitted cherries

Growing a tree at home, using a stone, you do not need to build illusions and expect that you will be able to get varietal cherries - in 99%, maternal characteristics are not preserved. A grown plant will produce small, tasteless fruits.

It is not necessary to refuse a fascinating experiment, having learned this significant drawback - the tree has many advantages:

• tolerates even harsh climatic conditions;
• does not require special care;
• practically not affected by diseases, pests;
• not afraid of severe frosts;
• has increased immunity.

Another indisputable advantage of cherries grown from stone is that the tree serves as an excellent rootstock.

Seed selection

Usually, the germination of the seeds is quite high, the sprouts give even small seeds. Despite this, it is recommended to use planting material for growing large fruits, slightly overripe, with excellent taste.

It is not recommended to use planting material from purchased fruits - most likely, berries were brought from warm regions, so in harsh conditions the seedling will certainly die.

You should also not take seeds from carrion - the tree will be susceptible to rot, fungal diseases.

Use fresh seeds with good germination when planting. Storage will certainly affect the appearance of sprouts - after a year, the chances of getting full-fledged seedlings are significantly reduced.

Bone stratification

After extracting the seeds, it is recommended to rinse them thoroughly, dry them a little at room conditions. You can plant in pots right away, but it is better to plant in the spring, having previously subjected the bones to stratification.

Seed hardening is easy:

• Put in a small container, sprinkle the bones with sawdust, peat.
• Moisturize a little.
• Put on the balcony, in the refrigerator.

Regularly check the quality of planting material - remove spoiled, moldy seeds in a timely manner.

Date of planting

Planting seeds largely depends on the region. In the southern regions, it is better to give preference to autumn planting - the first shoots will appear in the spring, and the planting material will receive full hardening in artificial conditions, which will affect endurance.

In harsh conditions, it is better to plant the seeds in the spring - planting in the fall will cause sprouts to appear too early, so lack of light will cause the plants to stretch. For storage, use containers with sand, sawdust. The duration of storage should not exceed six months, otherwise the bones will not germinate.

Substrate preparation

It is recommended to use a ready-made substrate for seed germination. Buy potting mix for seedlings in the store. If it is not possible to use purchased soil, prepare it yourself. Mix:

• 5 handfuls of mother soil;
• handful of coarse clean sand;
• a handful of ash;
• 2 handfuls of peat.

In the pot, be sure to make holes to remove excess water. Put a drainage layer that will not allow moisture to stagnate. Be sure to calcine the mother soil in the oven or pour plenty of boiling water over it. Such a precautionary measure will destroy harmful microorganisms, pest larvae.

Planting the seed

After keeping the seeds in wet sand or sawdust, sprouts appear - this is a signal for planting. As with growing plants in open ground, deepen the planting material of sweet cherries by only 1-2 cm.Be sure to carefully water the soil mixture, trying not to wash the bones. If a common container is used for growing plants, leave a distance of about 10-12 cm between the drupes. If the planting material is of poor quality, a smaller gap is allowed - it is better to thin out later.

How to properly care for seedlings

The cherries grown from drupes are no different from ordinary houseplants, so there will be no particular difficulties - the plants are unpretentious in care and will not require special attention. The main thing is to avoid mistakes in germination, timely watering, careful loosening, timely application of nutrients. In order for the plant to actively grow and develop, it is recommended to send containers or pots outside during the warm season.

Be sure to monitor the weather - when it gets colder, it's better to bring containers with young trees indoors.

Trees grown for planting in open ground are recommended to be kept at home for up to three years. Be sure to ensure a comfortable wintering - about 12 degrees. Send to a cool place immediately after dropping the leaves, first inspect the condition of the bark, branches - if wintering places for pests are found (under the bark, in the ground), remove insects, carry out treatment for prevention.

Water Regularity

There are no special rules for watering sweet cherries - irrigate the substrate as needed. To do this, regularly check the surface of the soil with your finger - if it is dry to a depth of 1 cm, carefully pour the soil mixture. Introduce the liquid carefully, it is best under the wall of the pot. Cherry, regardless of the place of cultivation, is afraid of waterlogging. The abundance of water will certainly provoke the decay of the root system, even drainage here may be powerless. Before watering, carefully loosen the surface of the soil mixture.

Do it carefully - most of the cherry roots are on top, they are easy to damage, which will cause weakness or even death of the tree.

Once every few days it is recommended to irrigate the plant with warm water over the leaves. Pre-protect the surface of the soil in a pot - wrap with polyethylene. If possible, fertilize the leaves several times.

Feeding young animals

The introduction of nutrients should begin after the appearance of the first full-fledged leaf. It is recommended to use organic compounds (mullein solution, humus), mineral fertilizers. The frequency of top dressing is once every two weeks. Pre-carry out abundant watering, light loosening of the soil surface.

It is forbidden to bring in fresh organic matter - there is a risk of provoking the development of diseases. Another danger lurking in manure that has not had time to overcook is that an abundance of nutrients will burn tender roots, and even generous pre-watering will not protect them.

Protection from pests and diseases

Windowsill-grown cherries are rarely affected by pests or diseases. If the plants are grown outdoors, there is a risk of disease and insect occupation. Young trees will be protected by regular preventive treatments - the use of Bordeaux liquid, a solution of copper sulfate.

Often, cherries that are taken outside in a pot are affected by aphids. Use against insects that suck the juice from young shoots is recommended folk proven methods. The easiest option is to sprinkle the aphids abundantly with wood ash every day or treat with an infusion of this valuable product. If there are too many insects, use more aggressive products - a mixture of soapy water, wood ash, red pepper. Use chemicals in extreme cases, when simple formulations cannot be handled.

Regardless of what means are used - folk or purchased, processing should be carried out outdoors. It is forbidden to spray the tree indoors - it is easy to damage the plants that grow near the sweet cherry, or even harm people, pets.

Pruning and crown shaping

It is recommended that cherries grown from stone be pruned already in the second year of life. Usually, only part of the main trunk is removed, the distance from the soil surface to the line along which the cut is made is about 60 cm. This measure will stimulate the growth of side shoots.

During the growth of the tree, it is recommended to remove dry, damaged branches. It is not necessary to shorten them, but if the cherry has grown too much, the crown has become thick, cut out the extra shoots.

Grafting a tree

Vaccination is recommended 3-4 years after planting the seed.Usually, varieties grown in this region are used for grafting, they will tolerate the operation perfectly, will not cause trouble in care, will endure harsh climatic conditions, and will please during the fruiting period.

It is better to graft with two varieties at once - mutual pollination will not require planting other trees for pollination. Cherry grafting is recommended in the spring. It is better to prepare cuttings from the fall, a refrigerator or cellar is suitable for storage (if there is too much scion). During the winter, carefully inspect the cuttings, remove spoiled or dried ones.

Third year cherry stem is usually not too thick, so it is best to graft using the split technique:

1. Inspect the graft, remove part of the he althy tissue - the cut must be clean, leaving a few he althy beautiful kidneys.
2. Cut off the rootstock, leaving about 15 cm of stem.
3. The operation should be carried out with clean, pre-sterilized instruments, dirt or even dust particles should not fall on the cut.
4. Make a small split in the rootstock (no more than 5 cm).
5. Insert prepared cuttings, fix tightly with special tape, coat with garden pitch.

Vaccination is considered successful if young leaves appear soon. Cherry care should be carried out as usual, but make sure that the tape that fixes the slices does not pinch the trunk. Transplantation into open ground should be carried out at the end of summer (for cold regions) or autumn (in warm regions). In order for the tree to take root well, it is recommended to take the container with the plant outside during the summer. If the weather is warm, leave even overnight - preliminary hardening will allow you not to worry about the endurance of the cherry.

Already next year, the first fruits may appear, but one should not expect too much from young cherries - there will be few ovaries. It is better to remove it and wait until the tree gets stronger. Only after 2-4 years will full fruiting come.

The beginning of the fruiting of the tree

Usually, the first flowers of the sweet cherry bloom the next year after grafting and transplanting. There are few buds, but even they can harm the tree, so experienced gardeners remove the first flowering completely. It is recommended to wait for the harvest in a few years, when the plant will get stronger, gain strength, and quickly begin to grow.

If the cherry has not been grafted, flowering occurs in 4-6 years. The fruits will not please with the size and taste, such plants are usually used for gardening. It happens that sweet cherries, even after a comfortable wintering, refuse to bear fruit. Autumn is to blame for this - too warm days do not allow the tree to fully relax. Do not be too upset - after a bad harvest, a fertile year usually follows.

Growing cherries from the stone is a fun and easy process. The efforts spent will certainly be rewarded, the tree will please with fruits, a dense lush crown, and endurance.The plant will not require special attention, simple care, watering, regular top dressing is enough. Do not forget about vaccination - this is the only way to get delicious sweet fruits that will delight adults and children.

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