Growing fruit from seed: stratification, dormancy and realistic expectations
Fruit seed is almost never true to type: a seed from a named apple grows a different apple. Seedlings are best treated as rootstock, novelty trees or an experiment, and need patience.
Cold-moist stratification
Temperate fruit seed (apple, pear, cherry, peach, plum) is dormant. Keep it moist at refrigerator temperature for the weeks given on its plant page (Oklahoma State University gives ranges by species), or sow outdoors in autumn and let winter do the job. Never let the seed dry out after it is taken from the fruit.
Pits, stones and tropical fruit
Clean the flesh off, remove the pit or stone from the fruit and keep it damp. Citrus and avocado seed germinates without a chill but needs warmth and must not be dried. Tropical and exotic fruit seed such as mango, papaya or passion fruit needs a consistently warm mix and grows slowly.
Seedling care and planting out
Pot seedlings individually into a deep pot, keep them in light and protect from frost. Many fruit trees take years to fruit and need grafting for named varieties; cuttings are the faster route to a known variety.
Why grow fruit from seed anyway
For rootstock, native and wildlife plantings, hedgerows, homesteading and permaculture, as a project with children, or for hydroponic and aquaponic experiments with fast-growing citrus.
Plants in this guide
| Plant | Germination temp | Depth | Days | Light | Before sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Malus domestica | see page | about 1 in (25 mm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Avocado Persea americana | see page | half the pit buried, tip up | varies | Either | Treat seed |
| Cherry Prunus avium and P. cerasus | see page | about 1 in (25 mm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Citrus (lemon, orange, lime) Citrus spp. | see page | about ½ in (12 mm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |
| Peach and plum Prunus persica and P. domestica | see page | about 2 in (5 cm) | varies | Cover | Treat seed |