Question
QUESTION: I have noticed that I have about a half a dozen or so of cherry seedlings growing under my cherry tree in my flower garden. They are about an inch above the soil and still have the old cherry casing on them. When should I dig them up and pot them? I have tried this with hosechestnut seedlings and they seem to die right after I dig them?

Thanks for any help Brian

ANSWER: Hi Brian,
Thanx for your question.  Wait until the seedlings are about 6 inches tall and have a few of their own true leaves.  Make sure you dig deeply so you cut off as few roots as possible.  Get a large root ball.  Bear in mind that the seedlings are most likely the progeny of a hybrid cherry tree (most are nowadays).  The seedling will not be mature enough to bear fruit for 3-5 years and the fruit and plant quality will most likely be inferior to the parent tree due to hybridization.  That does not mean the fruit will not taste good or the tree will not be sturdy but it will not have all of the characteristics of the hybrid because hybrids are genetically unstable.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the information. You mentioned a hybridized tree, the parent tree is about 80 feet tall and is a really old tree, so does this make any differnce in the seedling or how long it will bear fruit?

Answer
Hi Brian,
Thanx for the additional information.  If the tree is a very old tree, it may NOT be a hybrid but may be an old heirloom variety.  If it is 80 feet tall, I'll bet it is very old.  I've never known a cherry tree to get that tall!  Most fruit trees requie 3-7 years of growth before they are mature enough to bear fruit no matter how large the parent tree might have gotten.  I hope this helps.
Tom