The process of cultivating cherry trees beginning with the seed represents a long-term endeavor demanding patience and diligence. It involves extracting the seed from a mature cherry fruit, preparing it for germination through stratification, and providing optimal conditions for seedling development. This propagation method contrasts with grafting or budding, which are faster and often produce more predictable results in terms of fruit quality and tree characteristics.
Beginning with the seed offers the possibility of developing unique cultivars adapted to specific local environments, potentially exhibiting enhanced disease resistance or novel fruit characteristics. Historically, seed propagation was the primary method of fruit tree cultivation. While modern horticulture often favors clonal propagation for consistency, the seed route allows for genetic diversity and the potential discovery of superior traits.