I have been researching information about "seed planting for fruit trees" I found only one small artical. Do you know any thing about it and if so can you give me some info. In particular Peach and or Nectoreens. if you know of a link, or if you have good info please let me now. This is for a back yard project, mine. The summers are usually 90's sometimes more, spring 75-80 degrees, fall is perfect weather consistantly 75, winters seldom get below 32 degrees. Northern California Roseville, CA. P.S My Dad had a Neighbor that use to do this, however I believe he had to refrigerate the seeds for months before planting. I don't have any more info then this Please help.
Seedlings you get may not have as good a fruit as the trees the seeds came from. You will be experimenting. If you want to be sure of good fruit quality buy grafted specimens of named varieties known to be locally suitable.
"seedlings" as in small trees from seeds. I am not sure what you just said!. Are you talking seedlings as in small trees or "seeds" from a fruit tree, where by the seeds are planted hopfully to create a "fruit tree". Let me explain, I have seeds from a tree, I want to plant the seeds to create a "fruit tree". Can this be done, will it produce a tree, fruit, do you have to refrigerate the seeds for months, what is ment to be sure of good fruit quality (buy) grafted specimens of named varieties known to be locally suitable. Is this a NO, and buy a grafted specimen?
You do not have to a buy grafted variety for good fruit, at least for this type of stone fruit. Let the pit dry a little at room temp, then crack it open with a vise, nut-cracker, or whatever, careful not to break the seed inside. There is a dormancy requirement for the seed to germinate, also known as cold-moist chilling, which can be done in the refrigerator or simply sowing the seeds outdoors in the fall. There is an article specifically about this in June/July 2008 Mother Earth News.
Thank you so much for your information. I have stored several pits in the refrig, for a month or so now. Do they still have to dry out, out doors before they are planted. Can I or should I crack the pit, let them germinate (for how long) in the fall, and when do I plant the Pit, in the fall? Also, should I plant several cracked pits, I have about one dozen. Some one told me it is very hard to grow a fruit tree this way so by planting all of them (the pits) would assure maybe a start of a tree. Please advise. Irene allen allenrenie@yahoo.com
Peach and Nectarine seeds have a better record of producing worthwhile fruit trees than the seeds of most other fruits. Peach and nectarine trees grown from seedlings do not reliably produce fruit similar to that of the parent. Peach seeds are usually stratified for three or four months before planting, but it is also possible to grow seedlings by planting the seeds immediately after separating them from the ripe fruit. - Millet
