North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[nottke1 <nottke1@earthlink.net>]

Megan,
I have never scarified plum, peach, or cherry - all germinated OK.  I can't 
tell you whether they might have germinated faster if scarified.
Jim

-----Original Message-----
>From: Spidra Webster <spidra@speakeasy.net>
>Sent: May 7, 2009 11:50 PM
>To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
>Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Germinating Cherry Seed
>
>So no scarification needed?
>
>Thanks, Jim
>
>
>On May 7, 2009, at 4:41 AM, nottke1 wrote:
>
>> Megan,
>> In my limited experience, sweet cherry pits started to germinate in  
>> the fridge about 60 days after being put in there to chill, so  
>> check them occasionally.  Here in zone 7 the trees set fruit in the  
>> fifth year.
>> Jim
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Spidra Webster <spidra@speakeasy.net>
>>> Sent: May 6, 2009 11:47 PM
>>> To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
>>> Subject: [NAFEX] Germinating Cherry Seed
>>>
>>> Late rains took half my first-ever sweet cherry crop. I thought
>>> perhaps I could salvage something from the tragedy by using the seeds
>>> to see if I get anything useful for rootstock or low-chill breeding.
>>> I know I have to stratify the seed but it's unclear to me whether I
>>> need to scarify it as well. Also, how long does it take a cherry
>>> grown from seed to reach bearing maturity?