How to grow cherry at home easily?

Do you know the name for fruits that have a hard stone, a fleshy body, and a seed inside? They are referred to as drupes.

One of the most famous drupes is the cherry. They are known for their sweet and sour taste. Loaded with vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, cherries have various health benefits.

This luscious and ravishing red-colored fruit was a favorite among the ancient Greek and Roman people too!

What’s more?

Cherries are used to make cherry tea, which is well recognized for being beneficial to skin and hair, in addition to juices, syrups, and whole fruit.

This blog will discuss the growing methods and care instructions for cherry trees. Here is what we will cover: -

• Fascinating facts about cherries
• How to grow cherry at home
• Care guide for cherry tree at home
• Health benefit of cherries

So, here we go.

Fascinating facts about cherries

• Birds from Asia Minor likely brought sweet cherries to Europe via the fertile areas between the Black and Caspian Seas
• Greeks were the first to plant cherries, and during the Roman era, their output increased
• The Roman soldiers were given cherries as rations. As they moved, they discarded the pits, and these became trees. Because of this, it is stated that "to find the old Roman road, all one had to do was follow the wild cherry trees."
• Cherries come in more than a thousand different types
• Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Uttar Pradesh are the primary producers of cherries in India
• Turkey continues to be the world's top cherry producer, accounting for more than 28% of global output
• Do you know that the wood of the cherry tree has a fine structure? For its sturdiness, it is often used in the manufacture of furniture.

How to grow cherry at home

Cherry trees are sensitive and require a gardener's patience to grow and bear fruit. If you are bringing this tree home, be ready to invest your time. Follow the steps mentioned below to grow a cherry tree at home: -

Pick the type of cherry

Pick a variety of cherries first, depending on the climate to which you belong. Ask an experienced nursery owner, a gardener, or a gardener or farmer, and then go ahead. There are broadly two types of cherries – sweet and sour. Then there are more varieties under them. Sweet cherries generally require a dry climate that is not too hot and well-drained soil. On the other hand, sour or tart cherries also need well-drained soil, but they can tolerate higher temperatures with more rain and greater humidity.

Pick the type of tree

After this, you must decide whether you want a standard or dwarf-sized tree. Remember that standard-sized trees are more resilient, have a longer life, and produce more cherries. On the other hand, dwarf trees are petite, take up less space, and produce fruit at a tender age of 2-3 years.

Time to sow

The best time to plant this tree is in the fall, since it will have time to adapt and build a sturdy root system to withstand the upcoming colder months. If planted in the fall, both sweet and tart cherries grow the healthiest. During the spring, summer, and fall, if you choose to plant your cherry tree in the spring, make sure to give it enough water.

Soil preparation

In this stage, remove weeds from the soil, and mix well-rotted compost or manure to fertilize your garden soil. Make sure the soil is well-draining by building raised soil beds or adding more organic matter.

Check the soil pH, which should be between 6.0 and 7.5. So, add lime to reduce acidity or add sulfur to increase acidity, depending on the measured pH of your soil.

Get young tree

Purchase a cherry tree whose branches are between 2 inches (5.1 cm) and 8 inches (20 cm) in size.

Choose a spot

Both sweet and tart cherries would require full sunlight to develop appropriately, but tart cherries may grow with less sun than sweet cherries. You can place your trees on slopes that receive morning sun. But don't place your cherries close to other trees or structures that provide shade.

Spacing

Trees planted too closely together will compete with one another for soil nutrients and sunlight. For sweet cherries, place adult trees 35–40 feet (11–12 m) apart and dwarf trees 5–10 feet (1.5–3.0 m) apart. Space dwarf trees for tart cherry 8–10 feet (2.4–3.0 m) apart, and adult trees 20–25 feet apart (6.1–7.6 m)

Place the tree

Inspect the size of the tree root first, and then dig a hole twice its size to place the tree. It will help the tree develop its roots. Now carefully lift the tree you bought and put it in this hole.

Cover with soil

Using the soil mix, you prepared to fill in the hole to the original soil mark on the tree. To get rid of any air pockets as you fill the hole, keep firmly pressing the soil down.

Provide support

Take tree stakes or ties and place them about 1/3rd the height of the tree and insert them into the soil to provide support to the young tree.

Water

Now you must water the tree well by turning on your hose with only partial power, which is called the "slow trickle" method. Leave the hose there for a couple of hours, and then turn off the water.

Mulch

Later in the winter, add a new layer of mulch to the soil to help it retain moisture.

Over the next four years, take routine care of your tree as you wait for the fruit to develop. Cherries develop and mature over time. Your cherry trees should produce 30 to 50 quarts of cherries after around four years. Until then, give your tree frequent watering, trimming, and fertilization to ensure its health and strength.

The seed method

Save some seeds after you have eaten your favorite cherries to grow your tree at home. Follow the steps mentioned below and go ahead.

• There are two times to prepare your cherry tree: one, to prepare and plant them in the spring, and second, to plant them in the fall.
• Take the seeds, put them in warm water, let them soak for a few minutes, and then clean them to remove any traces of pulp.
• Take a clean paper towel, spread the seeds, and let them dry for five days. To accentuate proper drying, put the seeds in a warm area, like a window that receives enough sunlight.
• After five days, put the dry seeds in a glass jar or plastic container, close the lid, and refrigerate for ten weeks. This process is known as stratification, which augments the germination of the seeds.
• As ten weeks pass, remove the cherry seeds from the refrigerator and allow them some hours to return to average room temperature.
• Take small to medium-sized plant pots and fill them with potting soil to keep these seeds. Put two to three seeds in each pot.
• Look for a sunny spot and keep the pots there. Make sure you provide enough water to keep the soil just moist and not soggy.
• When the seedlings reach a height of 2 inches, look out for the thinner and weaker ones and cut them off.
• Keep them in a sunny spot, and at night if it gets cold, bring the post inside.
• The seedlings will become taller by spring, like 10-12 inches. Now you can plant them outside 20 feet apart from each other.

Take proper care of them until they bear fruit.

Care guide for cherry tree at home

It would be best if you took good care of the cherry tree throughout the year, from mulching to fertilizing. Here are some of the significant points that you must remember.

Soil

The deep sandy loam soil with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 is necessary for cherry trees. A well-draining soil with good water retention capacity is ideal for cherries. That's because cherry trees are delicate to stagnation.

Water

The water requirement of cherry trees would vary according to their age. For a young cherry tree in its first year, 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) of water every one to two weeks is enough. When the tree matures or completes a year, you can water it with just an inch (2.5 cm) of water every one to two weeks. Remember that cherry trees love moist soil, but soggy soil would welcome diseases. So, check the top one to two inches of soil before watering. Also, remember that cherry trees require more water in the spring and summer.

Fertilizer

The cherry tree is not much of a feeder. You should add compost and manure to the soil bed before sowing seeds. A low-nitrogen fertilizer during early spring would be best if you want to enhance fruit production. But again, if your tree isn't producing enough fruits considering its age, then fertilize it; otherwise, don't.

Sunlight

Ideally, full sunlight for 6–8 hours is necessary for the remarkable growth of cherry trees.

Location

Choose a sunny spot in your garden, and remember, wherever you plant a cheery tree, the area should not have any more giant trees or buildings; otherwise, the shade would disturb its growth.

Pruning

Cherry trees require annual pruning in late winter, when the fruits are almost over. Use scissors or pruners to cut off dead, damaged, or diseased branches and leaves. This will promote the growth of new fruiting trees.

Winter care

Those places with heavy winter seasons can wrap the trunk of the cherry tree to prevent winter sunscald.

Pesticides

Pests like aphids, caterpillars, and Japanese beetles often get attracted to cherry trees. Opt for a natural pesticide to get rid of these pests. Look out for tutorial videos on how to prepare your homemade pesticide and stay away from harsh chemical ones.

Guarding the fruits

It's necessary to cover your cherry tree with a net, as that will protect the fruits from birds. Sweet or tart cherries are always the top favorites of the flying buddies. Offer them some, but if you also want to savor the fruits, kindly block them with a net. So, every year before harvest, check your net to see if it needs to be replaced, and cover the tree beforehand because sometimes the birds attack even the buds.

Health benefits of cherries

Cherry is one of the best-looking fruits, isn't it? Besides good looks and great taste, it also has significant health benefits. Here is the nutritional chart for 100 grams of cherries: -

If consumed in a moderate amount, you can, of course, benefit from cherries. The probable health benefits of cherries are explained below: -

For a good night's sleep

The sour juice of cherries is endowed with melatonin, which has a solid ability to cure insomnia. People suffering from sleep-related disorders might want to try cherries and see the difference. Several studies have confirmed that the juice of cherries can help with sleep continuity. But when you face such sleep-related problems, you should discuss that with a specialist first.

May prevent Alzheimer's disease

Including cherries in your daily diet may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. The presence of antioxidants makes cherries all the more potent in preventing such a disease.

Helps with weight loss

When you are on a mission to lose weight, the most important thing to include in your diet is fruit. Cherry is one of those high-water-content fruits that will help you in your mission as it is also low in calories. Its high fiber content will help you remain full for a longer time. Other vitamins like B6 or riboflavin will help with better metabolism and convert nutrients into energy.

Lowering blood pressure

Cherries have a good amount of potassium and vitamin C that helps lower blood pressure and, in turn, take care of your heart. They also have phytosterols that help lower cholesterol.

Manages diabetes

Diabetic people must include cherries in all of their meals. It aids in metabolism and blood sugar regulation since it is a high source of fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, and carotenoids. Cherries are also rich in polyphenols; this group of chemicals helps fight cell damage and chronic conditions like diabetes.

Prevents inflammation

Do you know that eating cherries effectively decreased oxidative stress indicators in 8 out of 10 trials and inflammation in 11 out of 16 studies? Now, when coupled with the power of the antioxidants present in cherries, they can help reduce gout and other joint pains. Those who feel muscle pain after a rigorous workout may also find some relief from consuming cherry juice.

May prevent cancer

Sweet cherries have anti-cancer properties due to the presence of fibers, carotenoids, and vitamin C. Cherries are a great source of dietary fiber linked to a lower risk of cancer.

A friend for skin

Cherries are loaded with antioxidants, which is why they are great for your skin. The free radicals that make your skin look dull or lifeless are eradicated by the antioxidants present in cherries. So you get brighter, cleaner, and glowing skin. Vitamin A and cherries' antibacterial properties help remove various skin problems like acne, pimples, dark spots, blemishes, and sun damage.

Healthy hair

The inclusion of cherries promises healthy hair. That's because cherries have a good quantity of vitamins B, C, and K. The antioxidants present in cherries promote healthy hair and control hair fall.

Cherries might be challenging to grow because they require patience to ripen, but your efforts will be worthwhile. The gratification cannot be put into simple words when you taste a fruit you have worked relentlessly for. So, start planning to bring a cherry tree home and take care of it with guidance from our blog.

FAQs related to cherries

Are cherries challenging to grow?

No plant or tree is difficult to grow. All you have to do is follow their requirements. For cherries to grow properly, you need to provide fertile, well-draining soil, a good amount of sunlight, and meet their water requirements.

Is it possible to grow a cherry tree at home?

With proper guidance, care, and time, yes, you can grow a cherry tree at home.

How long it takes cherry trees to bear fruits?

It may take between 7 and 10 years for cherry trees to bear fruits. So, you have to be patient with them.

Where do cherries grow in India?

Cherries are not grown everywhere in India because of some special requirements. For example, they require an annual rainfall of 100–125 cm, a height of 2500 meters above mean sea level, and 1200–1500 hours of chilling in winter. Cherries are only grown in certain belts of Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh for these specific conditions.

How much sunlight do cherry trees require?

Cherry trees require full sunlight for 6-8 hours daily.

Are cherries good for the skin?

Cherries are good for the skin as they contain high amounts of antioxidants that can fight against free radicals that make your skin look dull.

Which fertilizer would be best for cherry trees?

Usually, any low-nitrogen fertilizer would be suitable for cherry trees. You can also opt for organic fertilizers like soybean meal, bone meal, or feather meal. Some readily available things at your home would serve as great fertilizers for cherries, like wood ash, coffee grounds, lime, and Epsom salt.