How To Plant A Peach Seed So You Can Grow Your Own Tree

There’s something about eating fresh, ripe fruit that makes us want to plant the seeds in our yard and grow our own trees. Many fruits are easy to grow from seed, just think about those watermelons growing out of the compost pile! Among fruit trees, peaches (as well as nectarines and apricots) are
ideal candidates for growing from seed. Planting a peach tree from seed is free and young saplings grow quickly, making a great project for beginning gardeners. Proper planting technique is important for successful seedling establishment and tree growth. We’ve provided everything you need to know to grow delicious peaches from seed.  

Gathering Peach Seeds

Although commercial peaches are typically produced through grafting, peaches tend to come true from seed. This means the fruit from the seedling will closely resemble that of the parent plant in flavor and other characteristics. As such, trees grown from seed provide a reliable and affordable (free) option for backyard growers. Collect seeds only from fully ripe peaches. For the best results, purchase fruits from local growers at a farm stand or farmer’s market. Locally grown peaches are more likely to be adapted to your regional climate than those purchased at the grocery store.

It is important to plant peaches that are well adapted to your region. All peaches require a certain period of cold temperatures during the winter months to ensure proper leaf and flower bud development the following spring. This is called a chilling requirement and is measured as the
accumulated hours at or below 45 °F. In coastal areas and other warm locations, it is necessary to select peach varieties with very low chilling requirements. Using peach seeds from fruits grown by local producers is a good way of ensuring you are using a peach variety adapted to local conditions.

Taste several different peach varieties to find your favorite(s). Peaches are self-fruitful, so you only need to plant a single tree or single variety to produce fruit. After eating the peaches, clean the pits using a brush and water, then let the pits dry on your countertop for several days. This will make it easier to crack the pits and remove the seed from inside (optional) and reduces the chances of fungal development on any pits you plant directly in the garden.  

Optional Step: Cracking The Seed

Although you can plant peach pits whole, seed germination will be higher if you remove the seeds from the pits. It is also best to remove peach seeds from their pits if you will be stratifying seeds in the refrigerator, as described below. Take care when cracking the pits open to avoid damaging the seed (or embryo) inside.

To open peach pits, use a nutcracker, vice, or screw clamp to apply gentle pressure along the seams. The seed inside resembles an almond (a close relative) in shape and color. Discard any damaged seeds and those showing signs of disease, such as discoloration or fuzzy growth. Also discard any
shriveled, darkened seeds. Store seeds in an airtight container in a cool location, such as the refrigerator, until you are ready to begin germination.  

Preparing Peach Seeds

Like many seeds, peach seeds require a period of cold treatment, called stratification, to germinate properly. This cold period causes natural germination inhibitors to break down. This is an adaptation to ensure that seeds sprout at the proper time of year, in spring, and not during the winter months. If you live in a cool climate, seeds can be started outdoors and will naturally experience the cold period required for germination. However, if you live in a warm climate, you will need to provide this period of cold stratification in your refrigerator.  

Peach seeds require a cold stratification period of one to three months at temperatures between 32 and 45˚F. To germinate seeds in time for spring planting, begin stratifying seeds about four months prior to your average last frost date in spring. Remove seeds from their pits for indoor stratification. 

To stratify seeds indoors:

1. Soak seeds overnight in room temperature water.

2. Place seeds in a lidded container filled with slightly moist potting media. Do not make the media too wet as it will promote mold.

3. Close the container and store it in the refrigerator. Keep seeds away from apples and other fruits. Do not allow the seeds to freeze.

4. Check seeds regularly beginning about one month after starting stratification. In time, you will see thick white roots begin to emerge.

5. Keep sprouted seeds in the refrigerator until ready to plant outdoors. The best time to plant sprouted peach seeds outdoors is about one month prior to your last frost date.

Planting The Peach Seed

Gardeners in locations experiencing cold winters can plant peach seeds directly in the ground or start them in outdoor containers in autumn (September to November, depending on location). If starting seeds in the ground, plant them where you want the tree to grow, allowing 15 to 20 feet
between trees. You may wish to plant 2-3 seeds per location, removing all but the strongest sapling once plants initiate growth in spring.

Select a planting site with full sun and well-draining soil. Prepare a planting bed at least 5 to 6 feet (preferably 10) in diameter by cultivating to a depth of 10 to 12 inches and incorporating organic matter such as compost. Conduct a soil test and adjust nutrients and pH accordingly. Peaches perform best in soils with a pH around 6.5.

To start seeds in outdoor containers, select a container with good drainage that is about 12 inches deep. Peat pots, paper pots, milk cartons, and other disposable materials make a great potting container as they can be cut away from the root ball without damaging roots. Bury containers in
the ground so that the soil surface is even with the surrounding soil. This helps to keep the soil and seed insulated over the winter. 

Follow these steps for planting peach seeds:

1. Plant seeds twice as deep as their length–about 3 inches deep–in containers or well-draining garden soil.

2. Pack soil gently around the seed and water until moist, but not soggy.

3. Apply several inches of mulch to insulate seeds and maintain soil moisture.

4. Protect seeds from squirrels and other critters by covering the containers or planting bed with a wire cage or hardware cloth, extending the cage several inches into the soil.

5. Water throughout winter only when the soil has completely dried.

6. Transplant container-grown seedlings into the garden when they reach a height of 12 inches.

Peach seeds stratified in the refrigerator can be planted in the garden about one month before the final frost date using these same planting steps. 

Caring For Peach Seedlings

Peach seedlings are fast growers and will produce a crop within three to five years. Select a planting site that receives at least six hours of direct sun daily and which is not shaded from nearby buildings or shade trees. Fruit blossoms are sensitive to spring frosts. Look for a planting site that sits higher in the landscape to allow cold air to fall away on chilly nights. Make sure the soil at the planting site drains within one hour following heavy rain as peach trees do not tolerate soggy soil. Sandy and loamy soils are ideal.

Peaches require regular irrigation during the first growing season as saplings establish. Monitor rainfall and provide supplemental irrigation as needed to provide plants with about one inch of water per week. Water slowly and deeply to thoroughly wet the root zone. Apply a three-inch layer of mulch in a three-foot circle surrounding the tree. This helps conserve soil moisture and manages weeds that compete with saplings for water and nutrients.

In many areas of the South, soil pH needs to be adjusted to provide ideal conditions for peach trees. Many gardeners will need to lime soil to raise the pH to around 6.5. Amend soil pH prior to planting and conduct a soil test every two to three years, adding additional amendments as needed. Fertilize new plantings with ½ pound of balanced (10-10-10) fertilizer one week after planting, keeping fertilizer 8 to 12 inches away from the trunk. Apply the same amount again 5 weeks later. In subsequent years, make fertilizer applications in March and May, increasing the amount to ¾ pounds in the second and third year, and one pound in years four and beyond. 

Peaches are susceptible to several insect and disease pests. Commercial growers spray plants every seven to ten days beginning at bloom and lasting through harvest. Home gardeners can also use a spray program to manage pests, but many backyard growers do not like using pesticides in the landscape. Spray programs targeting fungi and plum curculio insects are most critical to producing a good harvest. An alternative is bagging individual fruits with a mesh bag to protect them, certainly a labor-intensive strategy. Other management strategies include proper sanitation. Dispose of any fruits or branches showing signs of disease in the trash, and do not let fallen fruits remain in the garden. 

Pruning And Thinning Peach Trees

Peaches develop large dense foliage that shades the interior branches. To provide developing fruit with ample sunlight, peach trees are commonly pruned to an open center shape. This is done by cutting back the growing tip of the trunk (called the central leader) during the first winter after
planting and selectively removing side branches. The goal is to remove all but three or four strong branches spaced evenly around the trunk. These will become the tree's scaffold branches. Identify the strongest branches to serve as scaffold branches. The lowest branch should stand around 18 inches above the ground, with about 6 inches in height between subsequent scaffold branches. Remove all other side branches and cut the central leader back just above the topmost scaffold.

A vigorous, well maintained peach tree often produces more fruit than it can support. This can cause branches to break from the weight of the fruit. It some years, it is necessary to remove many of the developing fruit. This can be done by hand or, for very large trees, by beating branches
with a pole. Thin fruits about four weeks after full bloom, leaving one peach every six inches. The remaining fruit will be larger and more flavorful than if trees had not been thinned.