Why I No Longer Buy Mint: I Grow it on My Balcony and It’s Incredibly Fragrant

By Francesca – Class of 1974, Classical Education Graduate, Bachelor’s Degree Holder

We all love cherries for their delicious taste, but did you know that with just one pit, you can have a cherry tree in your garden or on your balcony in just a few days?

While planting seeds is not difficult, and anyone can do it (after all, you just need to bury a seed), the usual waiting time for a full-grown tree can be quite long.

But fear not! There’s a clever trick to naturally speed up the growth of your cherry tree. In about a month, you’ll see encouraging results, and soon enough, you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Let’s dive into the details.

Growing a Cherry Tree in 20 Days with the Pit-Splitting Trick

Cherries are as delightful as they are expensive! Who wouldn’t want to pick them right from their balcony or terrace, saving money and enjoying a homegrown product? A rhetorical question indeed!

To plant a cherry tree and enjoy its fruits (next year, approximately, for intellectual honesty), all you need is a cherry pit.

  1. Prepare the Pit: Clean the pit thoroughly, removing all the pulp. Soak it in a glass of hydrogen peroxide and let it rest for about ten minutes. Rinse it well under tap water, and once dry, it’s theoretically ready to be planted. It will sprout in about 5 or 6 months.
  2. Accelerate the Process: If you wish to speed up the process, create a slit in the shell. Use a nutcracker to press it, releasing the embryo, which will germinate faster.
  3. Planting: Fill a pot about 26 centimeters wide with a mix of universal soil and compost. Plant the seed about 2/3 centimeters deep and cover it with soil. Keep it consistently moist and well-watered. Initially, use a gentle spray to avoid disturbing it. Place it in a sheltered area, well-exposed to sunlight.

In a little over a month, you’ll witness the first sprout. After a week, you’ll marvel at the first leaves, and in fifteen days, the sapling will reach a height of about 15 centimeters. From there on, it’s continuous growth!

During the winter, protect it from the elements with non-woven fabric to prevent it from enduring excessively low temperatures and heavy rains. Fertilize every 3 months to keep it healthy, and prune it once a year to regulate the branches and ensure they aren’t too heavy, depleting the plant of vital energy.

Next spring, your efforts will be rewarded with lush blossoms and a bountiful harvest.

Check out the video tutorial for a step-by-step guide!