I have a very old cherry tree in poor condition, before it dies I would like to germinate some seeds to keep this beautiful old variety. I have seeds from this year. How do I handle this?
Answer
Dear Luc, I know from experience that you can “sow” cherries by putting the pits of ripe cherries in the ground. The disadvantage is that you are not sure that the new tree will produce the same good cherries. Due to pollination with other cherry trees in the area, there is a good chance that your new cherry tree will be a kind of cross that produces less good cherries. To be sure that the variety is preserved, it is better to cut a twig: cut off a few healthy young twigs of 10 to 15 cm in the spring. You can root them in a glass of water or directly in the soil after letting the cut surface dry for a day (to avoid infections). Cutting powder can help with rooting, but is not necessary. To really be sure that you get a healthy new cherry tree, you can also graft a branch of your tree onto a strong rootstock, but it is best to seek advice from a tree nursery or someone else with experience in grafting. Good luck! Francis
Answered by
Dr. Francis Meerburg
Biology, Environmental technology, Microbial techniques, Water purification, Biomass
http://www.ugent.be
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