Ever consider putting the seed of a wonderful fruit to establish a new tree? Peach and apricot trees may be produced from seed, despite the fact that common fruits are often propagated by grafting. Read on to see how! While sowing the seeds of apples, pears, plums, and cherries might also result in a new tree, the seedling tree’s fruit will rarely resemble that of the parent tree.
In many instances, even seeds from the apple with the finest flavor can produce a tree with inedible or low-quality fruit. A seedling tree also lacks the dwarfing characteristics of a tree grafted on a dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstock, therefore a seedling apple tree may reach a height of 30 feet.
For these reasons, vegetative propagation by grafting is the principal method for producing new fruit trees. Peaches and apricots are often true to seed, meaning that a seedling tree will resemble the parent tree and produce identical fruit. Although peach and apricot trees are grafted in commercial orchards, a seedling tree is an excellent alternative for a backyard or community garden orchard. Save the pits from locally farmed, fully ripe, delicious fruits. Using a brush and water, remove all fruit particles from pits. Allow to air-dry for several days on your counter, if possible. The seed can be extracted by dismantling the pit. You can use a vise, nut cracker, or hammer as a last resort.
Please do not allow anyone to consume this seed, as it contains a small quantity of lethal cyanide. Optional step that increases germination. Until you are ready to begin the germination process, store your seeds in an airtight container in the refrigerator. In the fall, plant numerous seeds or pits 3 to 4 feet deep in a container or in the ground.
Water well. If in a container, bury the container so that the top of the container and the soil line are even. Add several inches of mulch on top for more insulation. Choose a spot with care so that it does not become soaked with water. Your seeds must be protected from predators, particularly squirrels.
- Add a protective cage or hardware cloth around the pot, including a few inches into the soil.
- During the winter, water only when the soil is fully dry, but be careful to water deeply when the weather warms.
- In April, seedlings should appear.
- When the tallest of your seedlings reach over a foot in height, replant them.
Choose a sunny, well-drained location. In general, peach trees should bear fruit within three to five years. To germinate, peach seeds must endure a cold winter season, often known as cold stratification. If you reside in a warm climate, you can recreate the chilly temperatures necessary for seed germination in your refrigerator.
- Start the process approximately four months before the final day of spring frost.
- Soak seeds overnight in room temperature water.
- Place seeds in a bag or container containing moistened potting soil.
- Store in refrigerator.
- The objective is to maintain them cold and wet, yet mold-free.
- Between one and three months, depending on the type of peach, you should observe the emergence of thick, white rootlets.
The optimal period to plant is around one month before the final frost. Even if grown earlier, refrigerate sprouted seeds until that time. Plant in a container at least 12 inches deep, or straight into the soil. Should receive 1″ each week of precipitation or irrigation. 
If you’ve started a peach from seed, please tag us on social media with @phillyorchards – we’d love to follow along! MORE INFO: http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/growing-fruit-trees-zmaz08jjzmcc.aspx?PageId=1 http://www.garden.org/foodguide/browse/fruit/peach/1387 This version of POP TIPS was revised by Education Director Corrie Spellman-Lopez with assistance from POP Intern Rachel Baltuch.
Can a plant be grown from a peach seed?
Carefully split apart a peach stone and extract the seed. Both a hammer and a nutcracker are adequate cracking instruments. You can plant the entire pit without first breaking it open, but the seed germinates more quickly when the shell is removed.
How long does it take for a peach to develop from a seed?
Plant Your New Peach Tree – Choose a location with full sun and great drainage for your peach tree. Dig a hole deep enough to safely accommodate the tap root of the peach plant. Maintain normal moisture levels on your peach tree throughout its first growth season. The tree will take around three years to reach maturity, at which point it will produce blooms and fruit. The Conifer / Steven Merkel
If you want to develop a fruit tree rapidly and are impatient, you’ve come to the perfect location. Growing peach trees is a lengthy process, and they will not bear fruit in the first year. Typically, it takes between three and four years for a peach tree to mature.
- However, a peach tree may be grown from seed and will bear fruit in three to four years.
- After planting the tree, be careful to water it properly.
- Create a 3- to 6-inch berm around the root zone and mulch the trunk.
- Each year, prune the peach tree to maintain a healthy height and eliminate side branches.
Regular tree pruning will result in a higher-quality harvest. Once your peach tree has reached a height of 10 feet (3 m), apply 10-10-10 fertilizer to it. A typical peach tree can reach a height of twenty feet, but dwarf and semi-dwarf kinds can be significantly lower.
