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.
- The seedlings should sprout in the spring.
- 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.
SUPPORT US! If you found this item helpful, educational, or inspirational, please consider making a gift of any size to support POP’s efforts to establish and maintain community orchards in Philadelphia: phillyorchards.org/donate. 
Can I cultivate a peach tree from a seed?
Absolutely, you can grow a peach tree from a peach pit. Almost every fruit tree may be grown from seed. Keep in mind that peach seeds require cold stratification in order to germinate. Cold stratification is the method of imitating nature in which a seed experiences a very cold winter prior to the arrival of spring. David describes six types of cold stratification.
- Cold water immersion
- Refrigeration
- Planting in autumn
- Planting during the winter
- Snowfall accumulation
- outdoor therapy
Many people will tell you that planting a fruit tree from seed is not worthwhile. They claim that they do not bear fruit well, that the fruit is not tasty, etc. Growing fruit trees from seeds is an excellent method, in my experience. Yes, not all of them are outstanding, but the majority are, and some are remarkable.
Typically, seed-grown fruit trees are more durable, hardy, and adaptable to their surroundings. Grafted fruit trees will always have a weak point at the place of the graft. Often, growth will emerge from below the graft, and this development is typically more robust and rapid than the growth above the graft.
This is due to the fact that the “bottom” portion of the grafted tree is seed-grown, making it stronger and more robust. The primary purpose to purchase a grafted fruit tree is to obtain a specific kind of fruit, such as an Emperor mandarin or a Hass avocado.
- You may also grow avocados from seed; germination takes some time, but growth is rapid.
- In five years, my seed-grown avocado produced fruit in poor soil.
- I now have excellent soil, and my 1.5-year-old avocado, produced from seed, is already over 2 meters tall; I have no doubt that it will produce its first fruit this year.
My avocado tree growing from seed this year! 
How long does it take for a peach tree to mature?
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.
Since the majority of peach tree varieties are self-fertile, only one tree is required for fruit production.
Can a peach seed be planted from a store-bought peach?
Tutorial on How to Grow a Peach or Plum Tree From Seed – How to develop a peach tree from the pit (seed/stone) of a peach purchased from a grocery shop. The same guidelines apply to other cold-resistant stone fruits, such as plums, nectarines, and cherries.
Preparation Time 20 Minutes Steps 20 Minutes Months in Fridge 105 d Total Time 40 minutes Produces 1 peach tree Cost: $10 1 Ripe Peach with the pit intact Remove the stone from the ripe peach. Scrub pulp from the pit until it is quite clean, then photograph it for future use. Store pit in a wet (not damp or dry) paper towel and place it in a food storage bag or container.
Name and date the fruit on the label. Keep in the refrigerator for between 98 and 105 days. The optimal temperature for peach pits is between 34 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (1 and 4 degrees Celsius). Check pit once each week and re-wet paper towel as necessary.
When sprouted, plant the pit two inches deep in organic potting mix in a flower container. Continue growing on a sunny window sill until there is no longer a chance of frost. Then, gradually introduce the plant to its permanent outside growth environment. The majority of seeds from stone fruits, such as peach, plum, nectarine, and cherry, do not reproduce according to type.
And, some seeds never germinate. We advocate cultivating many pits simultaneously to maximize your chances of success. Have fun with it and prosper in your development.
