Eating a fresh peach straight from the tree is a summer treat that few can enjoy. Including peach trees in your garden or orchard is a truly rewarding endeavor. Learning to planting a seed from this delicious fruit can be a fun gardening adventure, although you should keep in mind that planting a peach tree from seed is a long-term commitment, but one that is well worth it.
The lush pink flowers of the peach tree are very ornamental in the spring, and the summer fruits are ideal for preparing delicious cakes, pies and preserves. Young peach trees can be a good choice for transplanting, but if you are patient, you can turn your snack seed into a fruit tree. If you also want to enhance your spaces by setting boundaries in a beautiful way.
How to plant a peach seed
Peaches are a delicious and healthy snack when eaten alone or as an ingredient in desserts and other dishes. To plant a peach tree from seed, follow the steps described below.
Choose the perfect seed
To begin with, you should select seeds from several varieties of the fruit to mitigate possible germination failure. Because most of the peaches you find in the supermarket are hybrid fruits, there is no way to know which variety will come up when you plant your seed.
How to germinate seeds with kitchen paper
Put the paper towel in the container and add water to moisten it completely, but do not flood it. Place the seeds on the paper and close the pot. Some seeds can germinate in just one day.
Prepare your seeds
Here are two different ways to prepare the seed and get germination off to a good start: carefully clean and dry the peach pit to give it the best possible chance and avoid any mold or fungus. Rub any pieces of fruit and dip the cleaned seed in a bleach solution containing 10 parts water to one part bleach. Then allow the seed to air dry completely at room temperature. It may take a few days to dry completely. You can also coat the seed with a fungicide to help prevent mold growth as an additional protection.
Alternatively, you can remove the seed from its outer protective layer (the stone) to encourage faster germination in the future. Using a nutcracker or hammer, carefully break the rough outer layer, taking care not to damage the inner core.
Plant peach seeds
You can plant the seed directly into the soil during the fall. Plant your peach pit 10 to 12 centimeters deep in a good organic soil mix. Cover with two centimeters of mulch to protect the seed from the cold winter. Water the seed, keeping the soil moist, but not soggy. Hopefully, by spring, you’ll have a little sprout. Why plant it just before winter? The answer is because peach seeds need what is called a “cold treatment” before germination.
There is another option for those who wish to learn how to plant a peach seed with more predictable results, and that is to artificially germinate the seed indoors. To begin the germination process, soak your spindle in water for an hour or two. Then place it in a plastic bag with slightly moistened peat or vermiculite, and store it in the refrigerator for about four months to replicate the cold treatment.
Be sure to keep your peach seed away from other products that may emit ethylene gas, as it could negatively affect the seed germination process. Sometime between two weeks and up to three months, your peach seed should produce small sprouts. Once it has fully sprouted into a young plant, you can transplant it into a container. Plant the sprout in a good sized container for optimal root growth.
In general, since germination is not a guarantee, it is good practice to germinate and plant several peach pits. If all goes well, you could have a vegetable garden of sprouts to plant in the garden and if you successfully germinate more than you need, they make excellent gifts.
Hardening of your peach seedlings
When your peach seedling has several sets of true leaves, it is time to acclimate it outdoors. After the danger of the last frost has passed, place your peach tree outside in a protected area every day. Start with one or two hours the first day and add one hour each consecutive day. This gradually increases the fruit tree’s ability to withstand sun and outdoor temperatures.
Transplant your tree
Transplant your tree in the ground in a location that receives full sun and is somewhat protected from the wind. If there is sufficient light and the soil drains well, you will find that peach trees thrive with minimal care. Dig a deep hole to make sure you don’t bend or damage the roots when transplanting the tree and keep the tree’s roots moist, but not too moist for the first year.
How to save a seed that does not germinate?
In this type of seed, it is necessary to wear away or weaken the shell -scarify-, to allow water to enter and activate germination. Check if your source is of this type. If it is, you should file or break its shell, but be careful not to damage the embryo inside.
How long does a peach tree take to flower?
It flowers on wood that is 1 year old or older, so prune the tree every year to give the new shoots time to grow.
How long does it take for a peach tree to produce peaches?
Late frosts can spoil the crop since when the flowers freeze, they prevent fruit set. But normally, the peach tree produces fruit from its fourth year of growth, and it is a tree that can live around 30 years. Peach and nectarine trees are planted from rootstocks that can be purchased at a nursery or speciality store.
What care does a peach tree need?
The three main minerals that peach trees need are those that make up the NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.