Cherry Seeds

[sunflower-n-ks]

Will they grow after being in the freezer?

I found some growing in my fence row last summer. A delightful surprise to say the least. They were sweet enough to eat off the bushes and had some tart. More went into my mouth than the container, I think. Anyway, taken by surprise, I just washed and bagged and froze what didn't get eaten on the spot. Now, I have the seeds from those that are being used without cooking them. Will those seeds grow?

And how can they be identified as to the variety they are? They are growing at the end of a black walnut fence row. The largest is maybe 15 feet tall. All looking like they need some pruning and care. Dark green leaves and bright red cherries getting dark red as they begin to get over ripe.

I am in East Central Kansas in zone 5b/6

[MichaelK!]

You are very lucky sunflower! I've tried many times to sprout cherry pits from various sources, and I never, ever got a single cherry seedling. Apparently, cherry seed falling off the tree sprouts more readily than harvested fruit that has been refrigerated. I think that means it would be very hard to sprout the frozen pits. However, pits from fruit right off the tree might sprout, though it may require winter chill and sprout next spring.

According to one reference I read, cherries are much more homogenous than other fruits like apple, and the seeds are much more likely to bear true.

You know, if you think this fruit is really good, you might want to try grafting it yourself to propage it. You could call your new variety "Kansas Sunflower Cherry"! If you can get more seedlings, try whip grafting shoots off the best tree onto your newly sprouted seedlings. Grafting is pretty easy. Here's a pic of an Anjou shoot I grafted onto a seedling I sprouted from the seed of a store bought pear. This tree has now been planted in my orchard!

[sunflower-n-ks]

Grafting - good idea. Another thing to learn how to do though.

I am very curious about the variety of the cherries though. I have lived here 6 years and never saw them before. The only reason I found them this year is because a goose went missing and I was looking for her. That took me back to where the cherries were and there were all these bright red balls on the brush. CHERRIES!!!! There are also a lot of seedlings growing in the area. I assumed they are seedlings of the cherries, but it was another very hectic summer and after the cherries I could get to were picked, I didn't go back there again. Now I am wondering if they are from the cherries and cannot compare leaves. ??? If they are cherry seedlings I would love to plant some in a better place. And would gladly share with anyone interested. I hear a cherry that grows in Ks only produces about every 4 years. That might explain why I did not see anything of them before. I was watching for pears along there because the man I bought the place from said there "was a pear tree back there". So I was watching for pears in the fall.

[Paquebot]

Your seeds should grow. Cherry pits need a long chilling period in order to germinate. Wrap some in damp paper towels and place inside a Ziplock. Then store them in the refrigerator for about 10 weeks, making certain that they do not dry out. In the spring, plant them about a half-inch deep in pots and place in a sunny location. Should give you enough seedlings to plant a lot of fence rows.

Martin