Refrigerating Cherry Pits in Moist Soil for Stratification

Cherry pits can be stratified in a bag of damp soil (not soggy) instead of a pot. 40 pits in 4–6 cups soil works.

Critical Point

• After 90 days cold, DO NOT put sprouted seedlings back in cold.
• They’ll die. Nature keeps seeds dormant until warmth returns.
• Grow seedlings indoors under lights until spring.
• Harden off 10 days in shade before planting out.

Moist cold breaks dormancy; warmth triggers growth. Don’t reverse.