Since retiring I have time on my hands.  Can peach seeds be propagated?  How?

Hi cmartinez..
I have started apple sesdlings from some seeds a lady sent me.The apple came from the store..And so I don't know why you can't plant a dried peach seed the same way.. in a pot..Give it a try..It's fun to watch them sprout..
Happy new retiree and have fun playing in your yard and gardens..

Yes!

I live in Tucson, AZ.
Occassionally, when I eat a fruit that is especially flavorful, I'll shove the pit in a pot of dirt. Unfortunately, I'd stuck 2-3 varieties of pits in this one pot, so when something started growing, I didn't know if it was peach, nectarine or apricot! As Fall approached the leaves yellowed and fell off - followed by greening up again in the Spring. Great! I knew the plant was deciduous, and therefore definitely a tree of some sort. About 4 years later, I transplanted it into a corner of the garden. The following Spring it exploded in pink blossums! The tree only produced about 12 fruit that first year, but they were the most amazing freestone peaches I'd ever eaten. That was two years ago.

This year, my little peach tree is so loaded I needed to support some of the branches! They'll ripen in early September...I hope to be able to can a few!
Here's a picture from this past Spring (2010):
 

I also have a grapefruit tree stared from seed. That tree is now about 25 years old - very heavy with fruit this year.

I currently have 2 ruby reds coming up as well as an apple of some sort...all started this year from a seed.

Good luck CMartinez1, you never know unless you try! If possible, only use fruit you know not to be a hybrid, and one that very much appeals to your taste. It may take a while before it produces, but it's well worth the wait!

Am I glad I came across this posting, I live in Texas & have 1peach & 3 plum trees, plum trees gives so much fruit I give alot away of course only after making jams, jellies, etc...however my peach tree ( approx. 15yrs.old) hasn't done so well until this year, the peaches were Awesome..delicious & bountiful,  I read the post where you said you just push the pit into a pot of soil & wait & see, do you start the pit/seed in any way? I have started plant & veg. seeds in moist paper towel and in peat pots, but have never started anything from a pit, my neighbor told me to start it in a small glass with toothpicks over water ( like a potato when we were all kids) does anyone think this method would work? I have lots of plum pits to try just about anything,  but the peach tree is getting older & I'm afraid that this may be it's last hooray so I want to handle each peach pit like it was "gold" any help & advice would be greatly appreciated.

No, I'm sorry...I don't have any specific method. Sometimes I'd just push the pit into dirt and other times, I'd let it sit in the freezer for a few weeks - kinda like it's been through a winter 'season'. I'd heard that this may be necessary for the pit to 'break' open after being in warmer soil to 'start'. So, I really couldn't tell you if it was a 'fresh' pit, or one I'd had in the freezer. I currently have three aprium (plum/apricot mix) pits in the freezer...hopefully I'll be able to answer this better by next spring. I've never tried it with toothpicks...only did that with avocados; potatoes, I just bury a few eyes.

Since I'm not sure which 'method' the pit grew from, I wasn't sure whether to put it in my post...I guess I should've so someone else could try it both ways. I'll keep better track of the aprium pits!

Anyone else with a proven 'start' method?

Hi All..
I just stick a seed in the dirt..Some make it and some don't.I live where the weather gets below freezing sometimes, and if I plant late..Sometimes the seed pod won't make the winter..

pdelong,,,The tree looks so pretty..I hope you get the fruits from your labor..
Have a great day..

Thanks for the link! It’s a keeper!

After the first productive year, I did do some pruning/shaping. But I left the center leader. I cut off any branches pointing downward as well as removing any branches that were crowding, went toward the back and over the pathway. The next season, although there were plenty of blossoms, the fruit did not mature well. This past dormant season, I removed any spindly branches as well as, again, any that extended over the pathway. The abundance of blossoms did produce an abundance of fruit this year…as shown in the photo here. Just before taking the pic this afternoon, I found that the weight of the fruit on the center lead had bowed it over considerably. So, again, we added further support.



All of the fruit, top to bottom is developing well, even without the shape being open-centered. When it comes time to prune again this year, I will be a little more ‘aggressive’ and cut the center lead back more than I would have otherwise. With this year, I have also been a bit more diligent with my watering. As arid as it is here in AZ, I try to give the tree a good deep soak every 7-10 days. It seems to be working well. I think, maybe, I didn’t do a complete deep soaking last year. I’m doing the same method with my citrus trees, and they are producing larger more plentiful fruit as well. I will try to remember to post a photo here and we can 'monitor' its progress.

I have several peach pits that I would like to plant and have a question. I live in zone 6 and would like to put these pits in dirt this Spring, should I put them in the ground before winter or in the freezer as you are doing? If in the freezer, when should I put them in and when to take them out to plant? Thanks for any info.

as stated by E-HOW


•1
Check Your Zone
To grow a peach tree, you must be in the right zone. If you aren't sure that peach trees grow in your area, you may go to the Arbor Day Foundation website in the resource section below. Simply type in your zip code and it will let you know what types of trees can be grown in your zone.

•2
Gather Pits
Gathering pits can be enjoyable. Sample peaches from the trees of friends and family, or local farmer's markets. If you find a particularly tasty peach, make sure you save the seed for growing your own tree.

•3
Germinating the Seed - Method 1
The important thing to know about a peach seed is that it must get cold before it will germinate. This is called stratification. You can collect peach seed throughout the summer and then directly sow them into the ground in the fall. Make sure the area is free from grass and weeds. Plant them 4 inches deep and plant them in a row. Mark the location of your row. Mulch the area. In the spring, watch for sprouting and be sure to water during dry spells.

•4
Germinating the Seed - Method 2
Three months before your last frost date, place the seed in a small pot or cup filled with good potting soil or compost. The pot will need to be small enough to fit into a ziplock baggie. Dampen the soil, being careful not to make it soggy. Place the pot inside a plastic baggie. Zip the baggie closed. Place it inside the refrigerator until your last frost date has passed. Take the pot out of the bag and place in a sunny window keeping the soil moist and the temperature at about 70 degrees. Spring is a great time to transplant the tree outdoors. When you are ready to transplant your tree, clear the area of weeds and grass. Keep the new tree well mulched and watered. Don't forget to mark the location of your tree with a stake, so you do not accidentally mow over it.



hope this helps