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Peach trees are a bit particular in their needs. This deciduous tree thrives in summer heat and winter cold and is hardy to USDA zones 5 to 9 (find your growing zone here).
Whether you call it a pit, a seed or a stone, don’t expect the peaches that grow from it to taste like the parent peaches. Chances are good that they won’t. You will, however, get a peach tree that bears what horticulturist Robert Cox calls “decent” peaches.
To avoid having squirrels and other critters digging up your peach seeds, other specialists recommend stratifying them indoors over the winter and then planting outdoors in the spring.
Both methods work, while the latter is the safest. Start the peach seed germination process in the middle of January.
Here’s what you’ll need to germinate peach seeds:
Wash the peach stone, scrubbing it with a brush, until all of the fruit is removed. Place the stone in a bowl and pour water over it. Allow it to soak for 24 hours.
Moisten a handful of peat moss and use your hands to wring it out until all of the water drips from it and it is just barely moist.
Push the peach stone into the moss and place the bundle in a plastic sandwich bag. Seal the bag and use a sharp instrument, such as an icepick, to poke three to five small holes in the bag for ventilation.
Place the bag in an area where the temperature remains 41 degrees, F. and allow it to remain there for two months. If the temperature gets as low as 36 degrees, the germination chances are reduced to 5 percent.
Don’t cut corners here by removing the seed before the two-month period is complete or the seed won’t germinate.
It’s also important to not leave it longer than that, or the chances of germination are reduced, according to Michael A. Dirr and Charles W. Heuser, authors of “The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.”
The seed should begin to sprout during this process, but don’t be alarmed if it doesn’t.
Check the moisture content of the peat moss once a week. If it feels dry, sprinkle several drops of water over it. Do not allow the moss to be wet, just slightly moist.
Choose a planting location for the peach seed. It should have an eastern or northern exposure, according to the experts at Colorado State University.
Loosen the soil in a 1-foot square area, to 1 foot deep. Add a 3-inch layer of coarse sand, and 3 inches of compost to the soil and use the shovel or a garden fork to blend the amendments with the garden soil.
Plant the peach stone, wrapped in the peat moss, 1 and ½-inch deep and cover it with soil. Water the area until the top 6 inches of soil is moist and don’t water again unless there is no rain for two weeks.
The peach stone should sprout from the soil within one month.
