Germinating Cherry Pits: Cold Stratification and Hybrid Reality Check

Growing Cherries from Store-Bought Pits

Most market cherries are hybrids; seedlings will likely be inferior. But if you want to try:

1. Crack pit; remove almond-like seed.
2. Wrap in moist paper towel; bag and refrigerate 60–90 days.
3. Sow 1 inch deep in potting soil at 75°F.
4. Germinate in 2 weeks; transplant at 2 inches.
5. Harden off 10 days after last frost; plant in full sun (8+ hours).

Alternative: sow in pot outdoors for natural stratification. Fruit in 5–7 years.