To grow a peach from the stoneyou need to be patient. However, the sight of a seed sprouting in a pot will reward our efforts. Seehow to grow a peach tree from a stoneand how to care for young seedlings. Learnwhich peach fruits to obtain seeds fromsuitable for sowing and how to stimulate them to sprout. By following our guidelines, anyone cangrow their own peach !
How to grow pitted peaches?
Is it worth growing a peach from a stone?
Before you start growing a stone peach , there are a few things you should know. The imported peach fruits that we buy in stores are harvested at a very early stage of ripening so that they can survive transport. The seeds did not develop well in such fruits. Placed in the substratepits from such peaches will not sprout
Thereforeonly seeds from peaches grown in our country , and preferably picked by ourselves, are suitable for breeding. The fruit must be very ripe, preferably already over-ripening, which have fallen from the tree by themselves.
We should also take into account the fact thatthe peaches obtained from sowing seedsmay differ from the mother plants and their fruits may be distasteful. The tasty peach fruits we eat come from breeding, hybrid varieties, propagated by grafting. By sowing a seed of such a variety, we will not obtain an offspring identical to the mother plant.
In addition, peaches grown in plots are usually grafted on dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstocks, which limits their natural growth.Peach trees obtained from seedswill grow naturally, usually very tall.
The last important information is thatpeaches grown from seeds can only start to bear fruit after many years of growing . During this time, the tree can only be used as an ornamental plant.
Before starting the cultivation, it is worth consideringwhether it is worth growing a peach from the stone . However, if you still feel like it, follow the instructions below: -)
To grow a peach, take the pit from the fruit when ripe
How to sow peach pits?
The seeds hidden in the peach pits , immediately after harvesting the fruit, are not yet able to germinate.This is because they are in a phase of deep physiological rest. Thereforebefore placing the peach stone in the ground , it is necessary to carry out treatments that will wake the seed from sleep.
Pips extracted from peach fruit pulpthoroughly wash under running water. During washing, we discard the pips floating on the water surface. After the seeds are cleared of the remains of the pulp, the seeds are dried and packed in paper bags, in which they will be stored at room temperature until the end of October.
At the turn of October and November,peach kernels are placed in dishes with waterand soaked for 24 hours. After this time, place the pits in a mixture of peat and sand (3: 1) and keep them cool (2-4 ° C) for 90-120 days. Depending on our storage options, the substrate is poured into plastic bags or boxes. Plastic bags with stones can be stored in the refrigerator, and the boxes in unheated rooms, where the temperature will be maintained at an appropriate level.
The substrate should be constantly moist throughout thecooling period of the peach pits . The appearance of the first sprouts (which usually takes place around April) is a signal for immediate sowing of seeds into a pot or into the ground, if we plan to continue growing a young plant in the garden.
Another way issowing peach pits in autumn(in September) in the ground. Previously, the seeds collected from the fruit, after thorough cleaning, should be immersed for a few seconds in an aqueous solution of an antifungal preparation (fungicide) for seed treatment (eg Topin M 500 SC) before placing them in the ground. Then place the dried stones in the substrate, water them and cover them with a layer of peat. Beforesowing the peach into the groundit is not necessary to cool the seeds as they will pass this stage under natural conditions.
Note!With this method of sowing, peach seeds can remain in the ground for a year without sprouting, which is completely natural.
How to care for peaches grown from stone?
Place the pots with growing peach seedlings in a bright place, away from radiators. Pots should have a hole in the bottom to allow excess water to drain out and a drainage layer (you can put small pebbles or expanded clay) at the bottom of the pot. In spring, when the risk of frost is over, place the pots on the balcony or terrace.
The best place forpotting peachis the south wall of the house. It is best if the pots are placed under a roof to protect them from rain, which will reduce the risk of disease. The peach grown in the pot is watered regularly. The soil must be kept constantly moist, but the roots must not be flooded. Protect the pot in which the peach grows in the fall from frost.
Good to know!Peach requires rest to develop properly, and a cool period is required for this. Therefore, do not move the pot to your home in winter. However, it is worth protecting it with insulating material (e.g. agrotextile) against freezing.
After a yeargrowing a peach in a potthe tree should be transplanted to a new substrate. Peach can be grown in containers with a minimum depth of 45 cm. However, we have to reckon with the fact that after some time, when its size makes it impossible to grow in a container, the tree will have to be transplanted into the ground.
Grown young peachesshould be weeded regularly. The area around the germinating stone can be covered with mulch to limit the germination of weeds. We can protect young peach trees against spring rains by constructing a small foil tent above them. We remove the cover at the beginning of summer.
MSc Eng. Agnieszka Lach
