Here’s how to grow your own peach tree from seed.
Here’s what to do if you’d like to try growing it into a tree.
Step 1.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Dry out the peach pit.
Remove any remaining fruit from the pit.
Allow the pit to dry for three to four days.
It must be completely dry to crack it open with ease.
Step 2.
Remove the seed from the pit.
Once the pit is all dry, it’s time to remove the seed inside it.
Use a nut cracker or a pair of pliers to break kick off the hard pit.
Don’t apply too much force on the pit because you want to avoid damaging the tender seed.
Once cracked, remove the outer, hard coating to reveal the peach seed.
The seed is white and looks very similar to an almond.
Step 3.
Soak the seed in water.
Fill a plasticstorage bagwith an inch of room temperature water.
Add the peach seed and terminate the bag tightly.
Allow the seed to soak for 2 to 3 hours.
Step 4.
Place it away from any other fruits or vegetables.
Once the seed has some growth emerging, it’s time to plant it in a pot.
Step 5.
Pot your peach seedling.
Plant your seedling in a mix of half potting soil and half compost in a ceramic or plastic container.
This will allow you to closely monitor water and nutrients, compared to planting it directly in the ground.
Plant the seed about 6 inches below the top of the container.
Place your container in part sun and slowly transition it to afull sun locationas it grows a few leaves.
Continue to water and watch its growth on a daily basis.
Peaches are part of thesame genus (Prunus) as apricots, cherries, almonds, and plums.
Fresh peaches can be grown outdoors inUSDA Hardiness Zones 4-10, but do best in Zones 6-8.
When planting your peach tree in the garden, select a location that is warm and sunny.
The garden soil should be well-drained, but moist.
Add plenty oforganic matter or compostto the soil when planting seeds.
check that the soil hits at the base of the tree trunk and doesn’t go up the trunk.
If frost is in the forecast and trees are in bloom, cover with fleece or plastic.
Water during dry periods.
Once the tree is well established, it will start flowering.
To do so, touch a soft paintbrush from flower to flower, simulating what a bee would do.
Pruning is only necessary to remove dead or damaged stems.
Removing old, dead stems helps to promote new, vigorous growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your peach tree should grow about 18 to 24 inches per year.
However, it can take 3 or 4 years for your peach tree to start producing fruit.
Their peak production time is during year 4 through 8.
The tree you grow won’t be identical to the plant parent.
There’s also a chance the tree won’t produce any fruit at all.
