Cherry

Have you ever eaten a cherry and wondered where it came from? From seed to dinner plate, the journey of a cherry is surprisingly involved, and full of science that helps make all that juicy sweetness taste so good. Everything, from the moment a cherry seed germinates to the moment it’s plucked off the stem and popped into your mouth, relies on science and technology.

Before the cherry can make its way from the tree to the dinner plate, a few important scientific steps have to occur, each of which helps to create the delicious and nutritious fruit we all know and love.

The First Step: Germination

Like all plants, cherries begin as tiny, oblong-shaped seeds. Unlike other types of plants, cherries can be grown from seeds alone – no need for cuttings or grafting, like one would need to do to create an apple or an orange tree.

In order for these precious cherry seeds to come to fruition, they must first be planted in nutrient-rich soil and exposed to the right combination of warmth and moisture. This begins the germination process and, with a little bit of luck, after several weeks, a small cherry seedling will start sprouting. This delicate, yet hardy, seedling requires lots of careful tending and attention to appease its every need.

The Right Climate and Soil

Cherry trees (or any fruit trees for that matter) require a certain type of climate in order to grow. Cherry trees thrive in temperate climates, with cool winters and lots of sunshine during summer months. This makes them ideal for many regions in the United States, such as California, Oregon, and Washington. For this reason, these three states are home to the majority of the United States’ commercial cherry production.

The soil in which the cherries grow is just as important as the climate. Cherry trees will only flourish in nutrient-rich, well-drained soils that are slightly alkaline in pH. soil test kits are a handy tool that allow growers to instantly determine the acidity or alkalinity (pH) of their soil so they’re able to ensure that the proper environment is being created for their trees.

Good Pruning Practices

Once the cherry trees have become established, they will require occasional pruning practices to ensure that the fruits develop in an even and uniform manner. Pruning cherries doesn’t necessarily increase the number of cherries that can be harvested, as some growers may hope, but it does make them easier to pick and better looking. The goal of any pruning practice is to create a balanced canopy, with an even distribution of foliage and flower buds throughout the tree’s branches.

Pruning cherries involves removing the excess shoots, stems, and branches from the tree. It’s important to have the right tools on hand before beginning, as these will make the job easier and safer. For smaller trees, a pair of sharp pruners will suffice; for larger trees, a pruning saw may be needed. When pruning, cut away the excess growth, leaving an even canopy shape.

Pollination and Blooming

Once the trees have been pruned, it’s time for the blossoms to start appearing. While cherry trees don’t require a pollinator to produce fruit, some cultivars do benefit from the presence of a pollinator like bees or hummingbirds. Honeybees are the most common pollinators of cherry trees, and beekeepers often plant cherry trees nearby in order to encourage pollination.

When the blossoms start to appear, typically in late spring or early summer depending on the geographic location, the trees will be in full bloom. At this time, the entire tree will be a mass of white or pink-hued petals, each one containing the potential for a single cherry to form.

Pest Control

Once the cherries have started to form, they’ll need protecting from any number of pests. In order to keep these fruits safe, many growers use a combination of natural and synthetic pesticides. Natural methods like companion planting (planting a particular crop alongside another one that deters insect pests) or deploying beneficial insects like lacewings or lady bugs can help keep the cherries safe, while synthetic pesticides can provide a more targeted approach.

Harvest Time

Once the cherries are fully ripened and ready for picking, it’s time for the harvest. Harvesting cherries is a tricky process, as the window of opportunity from when they’re ripe until when they start to rot is quite brief. Most growers will use a combination of touch and color to determine when it’s time to start picking.

Once harvested, cherries must be sorted and graded. This involves discarding any bruised, damaged, or overly ripe cherries, as well as removing stems and other debris. From here, the cherries can be sold fresh, or processed into jam, jelly, pies, and other products.

The Final Step: Eating!

And here we’ve reached the final step of the journey: eating! Cherries are incredibly versatile, and can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or baked into a variety of delicious treats. They’re also incredibly healthy – packed with vitamins, minerals, and disease-fighting antioxidants that can help keep us in good health.

From the moment of conception until the time it appears on our dinner plate, the cherry has followed a complex and intricate journey. Now you know all about the science behind a cherry’s life cycle and its delicious journey from soil to stomach. Hopefully this knowledge will help you appreciate this sweet, red fruit even more!