How to Plant a Peach Tree From a Pit

Have you ever eaten a peach and wondered whether it was possible to grow a tree from the pit? It certainly is possible, even easy, to grow a tree from the seed. Though not all grocery store varieties will grow from the seed, you can try.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• peach pit
• plastic bag
• water
• refrigeration
• pot and soil (optional)
• a nice spot for the tree

1. Eat a delicious peach. Allow the pit to dry out, then clean it of any remaining peach flesh.

2. Peach pits need to be stratified before planting. This involves replicating what happens to a peach when it grows into a tree in nature. You start by soaking the pit in water for 24 hours. This mimics a peach falling to the ground and lying in damp soil.

3. Once thoroughly soaked, wrap the peach pit in a plastic bag and place it in the refrigerator for at least several weeks. This begins the stratification process and replicates winter conditions, encouraging the seed to germinate. The pit will be fine even if you choose to leave it in the refrigerator for three or four months. Keep the inside of the bag dry, wiping any moisture that may accumulate.

4. When you are ready to plant your seed, you may either plant it directly in the ground or begin the growing in a pot. Should you choose to plant it in a pot first, use high quality soil and bury the seed about two inches from the top. Place the pot in a cool, bright area, watering it occasionally to keep the soil moist. Be careful to not over-water the plant, because this can cause the seed to rot.

5. You can also plant the peach pit directly in the ground in an area where the tree will be in full sun. Wait until fall or winter to plant it, placing the seed about three inches into the ground. It helps if you mark the ground in such a way that you know where to look for the seedling when it sprouts in the spring. As with the potted seed, keep the ground moist, but not so moist that the seed may rot. Make sure that there is enough room for the tree, as some varieties of peach trees grow to 20 feet in height.

6. When the tree grows, it will be a couple of years before it begins to bear fruit. The adult tree may not look as you expect, because the original may have been a hybrid.

Tips & Warnings

• Peaches require more nitrogen than many other plants. Fertilizing your tree each year (avoiding direct contact with the trunk) will be of benefit.
• Peach trees are susceptible to bugs and disease, particularly brown rot and leaf curl. Treating your tree for these conditions each year will increase your chances of the tree surviving to bear fruit.