How to Germinate Apricot Seeds
Most of the apricots that you buy in the store have been grown in California, and less than a quarter of those arrive fresh at the market--the rest are dried, as apricots do not ship well. When you can get your hands on fresh apricots there are a number of ways to prepare them, from making jam to substituting them for any fruit in your favorite desert recipe. If you grow an apricot tree you can have these sweet little treasures right in your own backyard. Starting an apricot tree from the stone takes patience as it can be a long, slow process. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Water
- Sand
- Plastic sandwich bag
- Planting pot with holes in the bottom for drainage
- Heat mat
Instructions
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1
Soak the pit, or stone, of the apricot in room temperature water for 24 hours.
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2
Place two cups of moist sand into the plastic bag and insert the seed into the sand. Seal the bag and place it in the refrigerator. It will need to remain there for one month.
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3
Pour seed starting mix into the pot and water well, stirring the soil to make sure that it is evenly wet. Plant the seed 2 inches into the planting mix and cover with soil.
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4
Place the pot on a heat mat set to 70 degrees F.
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5
Keep the soil moist until the seed germinates. Germination times are variable, and it could take several months for the seedling to break through the hard outer shell of the apricot stone.
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6
When the weather warms up, feel free to turn off the heat mat and place the pot outside where it will get lots of warmth. Try to maintain a soil temperature of at least 70 degrees F.
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