Like many stone fruits, the pit of a cherry can produce a tree.

This guide details how to plant cherry seeds in two ways for even more juicy fruit.

Once the fruit-bearing tree reaches maturity, it can yield buckets of flavorful cherries.

cherries hanging from cherry tree

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Two distinct types of edible cherry treessweet cherries and sour cherriesproduce fruit with very different flavor profiles.

They also grow across much of North America and parts of Australia.

Sweet cherries are hardy inUSDA Zones 5-7and grow to about 40 feet tall at maturity.

Cherries hanging on a tree surrounded by green leaves.

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They are usually grown for eating fresh, with ‘Bing’ being one of the most popular varieties.

This also means that most sweet cherry seeds will not breed true to bang out (i.e.

the resulting tree won’t be a copy of the parents).

cherry tree with ripe cherries

Credit:Bob Stefko

They’re hardy in Zones 4-6, making sour cherries slightly hardier than sweet cherries.

you could expect them to reach about 20 feet tall.

Sour cherries are self-pollinating and generally breed true from seed.

Early Richmond cherries on branch.

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These cherries are mostly usedfor cooking and baking.

Bob Stefko

Can Cherries Be Grown from Seeds?

Cherries grow from seed relatively easily, especially incolder regions of the United States.

Just remember that not all cherries will come true from seed.

If you want to grow cherries from seed, use sour cherry seeds for best results.

Place cleaned and dried seeds in a sand-based mix.

Fallen leaves and snow cover will help keep the seeds moist during drier periods.

In spring as temperatures warm up, seedlings will begin to sprout.

They can be transplanted after a second set of leaves has emerged.