Fruit · tree

Peach and plum from seed

Prunus persica and P. domestica · also searched as plum, growing fruit from pits

Sowing depth: about 2 in (5 cm)
Light: Cover the seed; darkness helps
Before sowing: Cold-moist stratification: roughly 90 days near freezing to 45°F. Crack the stone carefully or let a winter sowing do it.

Stratification length for peach and plum comes from secondary guidance; treat as approximate.

Sowing

Sow stones outdoors in autumn about 2 in deep so the winter does the chilling, or stratify in the fridge. Hard stones are often cracked open to reach the seed.

Care and transplanting

Peach seedlings often come fairly true to type but fruit quality varies. Plums are less reliable.

Problems

Rodents dig up stones; cover the bed with mesh.

Saving seed

Keep stones damp and cold until sowing.