How to grow a stone peach at home?

Grow a tree from a bone? Such thoughts from time to time visit everyone who loves to work in the garden or greenhouse. Especially if you have a fragrant juicy peach with delicate pulp in your hands.

And if people have learned to grow lemons and pomegranates at home, then getting a peach tree is a snap.

To do this, you need to be patient and follow the recommendations of experienced gardeners.

Is it possible and how to properly grow a peach from a stone?

Choosing planting material

High-quality planting material is the key to success... Turkish or Spanish peaches, no matter how beautiful and tasty they are, are not suitable for planting in our latitudes.

Everyone knows that imported peaches are removed from trees long before biological maturity. This is the right approach, because with the onset of technical ripeness, fruits acquire a delicate taste, retain useful substances and tolerate transportation well over long distances.

But the seeds of such fruits do not ripen, and therefore you should not waste your time and energy on their germination.

Besides, southern varieties will not survive in our climatebecause they are used to more comfortable conditions. If the seeds will sprout, then the seedlings themselves will die without receiving the required amount of sunlight and heat.

You need to choose peaches for pitting from zoned varieties, not from a grafted tree

If you have already decided to plant a peach, walk around the market looking for local fruits... The seller, who has grown his goods with his own hands, will be happy to tell you how to care for the seedling in order to achieve fruiting.

It's great if a neighbor in the country shares the harvest. In any case, prepare a few bones. The germination rate of peach seeds is about 25%, some of the seedlings will die during cultivation, so the more seeds you collect, the better.

Be sure to ask which tree the peaches were taken from. Do not take fruits from the grafted tree, because the characteristics of the variety when grown are unlikely to correspond to the mother.

Only peaches from own-rooted trees give planting material that can preserve species characteristics.

Growing a peach from a seed is as easy as shelling pears:

Choosing a variety

Zoned varieties will feel better in a local climate, content with the amount of heat and lighting that the nature of a particular region can give them.

Even if you decide to plant seedlings in open ground, with proper care they will not be afraid of frosts.

When choosing a peach variety, pay attention to the main characteristics.

Winter hardiness. If you are planning to transplant a seedling into open ground, choose varieties with good winter hardiness and unpretentiousness to growing conditions.

Self-pollination. Many varieties are self-pollinated. But if you want to get a generous harvest, plant at least 3-4 peaches nearby, which will subsequently bear fruit.

Early maturity - for successful fruiting in summer, it is recommended to plant early ripening varieties (July-first half of August).

The most popular of the early ripe peaches are Early Rivers, Winner, Early Minion. Good winter hardiness in the varieties Amsden and Kievsky early, and high yields in the varieties White Nectarine, Krasnodarsky Nectarine, Redhaven and Nobles.

To remove the seeds, prepare large, ripe, soft fruits with no signs of damage, rot or mold. Free the bones from the pulp, rinse thoroughly under running warm water and dry. Select seeds without traces of pests and cracking.

Choosing a growing method

Gardeners use three methods for growing peach trees from seed.

Stratification, or "cold method". An imitation of cold natural conditions is created so that the seeds are prepared for germination and germinate better.

During stratification, the shells soften, the seeds swell, complex organic substances turn into simple ones and are assimilated by the embryo of the seed.

Extraction of seeds. The “quick way”, which consists in splitting the bone and extracting the kernel. After the extraction of seeds from the stone, seedlings appear much earlier than during stratification.

Warm way. You can germinate seeds in pots at room temperature and natural light.

Gardeners for growing peach trees from seed use three methods: cold - stratification, warm and from extracted seeds

Cold way, or stratification, at home

For successful stratification, it is necessary to create moist conditions for seeds at a low above zero temperature and provide air access. For these purposes, a compartment for storing vegetables in the refrigerator or a basement is suitable.

Stratify seeds as follows:

Prepare a small container, without a lid, filled with wet sand or peat. Use coarse sand, sifted out of foreign particles and thoroughly washed.
Place the bones in the sand to a depth of 6-8 cm, place the container in a plastic bag with holes (to allow air to enter) and refrigerate for the winter.
Check the container regularly and moisten sand or peat with a spray bottle if necessary. The main thing is not to overdo it with watering, otherwise the seeds may rot.
In 3-4 months the seeds will "hatch" and sprouts of future peaches will appear.
Remove the container of sprouts from the refrigerator and plant the seedlings in the pots. Take the pots with drainage holes. Use a fertile soil made from a mixture of leafy soil, peat, and humus.
Place the seedling pots in a well-lit area.
Avoid sudden temperature changes. At first, provide the sprouts with a temperature of + 10 ° C, placing them on a glazed balcony or veranda.
After a few days, bring the pots with sprouts into the room and maintain the room temperature at + 18 + 20 ° C. Water sparingly as the soil dries.

What is stratification. How to do stratification correctly:

Chop and extract seeds

A quick way to grow a tree from seed for the impatient. If you do not want to wait until spring for the emergence of seedlings.

Proceed as follows:

Chop the washed and dried bones with a knife or hammer. Work with tools carefully, try not to damage the core of the bone.
Remove seeds and place in warm water for 2-3 days to swell. Replace fresh water daily.
When you see that the seeds have swollen and increased in size, plant them in separate pots with drainage holes. Select the size of the pot taking into account the fact that the planting depth is 4-6 cm.
After planting, water the seeds and cover the pots with glass or plastic wrap. Ventilate the "greenhouses" daily - remove the film, wipe off the condensation and let the pots "breathe" for a while.Remember, excess moisture causes mold and mildew to develop, which are damaging to seeds and seedlings.
After the sprouts appear, remove the film.

Remove the seeds and place in warm water for 2-3 days to swell, after planting, water the seeds and cover the pots with glass or plastic wrap

During the growth of the peach, the root system first grows, and only then the tree itself is formed.

Gardeners who grow peaches from seeds note that the height of the seedling reaches 0.5 m in 2-3 months.

How to germinate in a warm way

With this method, peach seeds are immediately planted in pots with soil mixture in the hope of waiting for sprouts to appear in a few months.

Planting technology is simple:

Keep the prepared bones in the refrigerator for 6-10 days. This will be a kind of short-term stratification.
Remove the seeds from the refrigerator and soak in a growth stimulant for 2-3 hours.
Plant the seeds 6 to 8 cm deep in wet potting soil.
Cover the pots with clear plastic or glass, ventilate them daily and wipe off condensation.
Sprout peaches at room temperature by placing the pots on a brightly lit windowsill. Water as needed.
When sprouts appear in 3-4 months, remove the film and move the seedlings to a well-lit place without drafts and direct sunlight.

Peach seeds are immediately planted in pots with soil mixture, after holding them in the refrigerator for 6-10 days

Care of young peach sprouts

In order for the seedlings to survive and gain strength, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for them.

The soil. Use loose, fertile soil of peat, humus, sand and leafy soil in proportions 1: 1: 1: 2.

Lighting. Provide good lighting. If there is a lack of sunlight, use LED phytolamps, which will give the necessary spectrum and accelerate plant growth.

Watering. Water the soil regularly. Reduce watering during fruit ripening and dormancy.

Temperature conditions. In winter, provide a temperature of + 2 + 4 ° С, with the onset of spring during flowering + 10 + 15 ° С, and after flowering + 18 + 25 ° С.

Provide the tree with a winter dormant period. At this time, significantly reduce watering, refuse additional lighting and provide the plant with a temperature of + 2 + 4 ° C. Resume routine care after the kidneys awaken.

Top dressing. Beginning in March, feed the plants with mineral and organic fertilizers every two weeks. Stop feeding from September. From organic fertilizers, use a nutritious infusion of humus.

Transfer. Transplant the seedling as it grows into a larger pot in early spring (before flowering) or early September.

Pruning. When the side shoots begin to grow, and the height of the main trunk is 70 cm, start forming the crown.

Fruiting occurs on the side branches of the tree, so the seedling should not be allowed to grow upward. Do the main pruning next spring. Prune and pinch vigorous shoots annually.

In order for the seedlings to survive and gain strength, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for them, including a winter dormant period.

Planting a tree in open ground in the country

At home, a full-fledged peach can only be grown by owners of a winter garden, a cool veranda, a glazed loggia or a greenhouse.

In ordinary apartment conditions, it is impossible to provide the seedling with the necessary temperature regime, depending on the season. But if all the conditions can be met, then in the first year, a young peach will grow up to 1.5 m.

Plan a peach transplant in open ground for March next year or early September. If you are planting several seedlings, observe an interval of 3-4 meters between them.

The same distance should be to adult plants, giving extensive shade, and to the walls of buildings on the site.Choose a place for planting that is well-lit, but protected from drafts.

Before planting a peach dig a hole about 1 m deep, apply organic fertilizers and dig well... Plant a seedling and compact the ground. Spill the trunk circles with water at room temperature and cover with a layer of mulch or humus.

A plant grown from a seed at home in the first 2-3 years after transplanting into open ground should be given special attention, because it is still poorly adapted to weather conditions.

Plan to transplant peach seedlings into open ground for March next year or early September

For winter, wrap the tree with burlap or non-woven fabric, and insulate the trunk with glass wool. Take care of the root system - so that it does not freeze, cover the soil of the trunk circle with a thick layer of fallen leaves or spruce branches.

In open ground, young trees can be attacked by aphids, scale insects, spider mites and moths. Peach diseases are characterized by scab, leaf curl, powdery mildew, fruit rot, clotteropsoriasis and moniliosis.

To protect the seedlings prune dry and cracked shoots regularly and carry out prophylactic insecticide treatments.

The process of growing a peach tree from seed is simple, but takes time and patience. With proper care fragrant and juicy fruits will appear in 2-3 years, and the crop can be harvested within 10-12 years.

The cultivation of peaches is practiced even in the harsh conditions of Siberia, so in our latitudes you can safely undertake an experiment.

How to germinate a peach seed:

Peach is a fragrant, juicy treat that few can resist. Unfortunately, the fruit grows in the southern regions, and it is not always possible to find it on sale. Today we will tell you how you can grow a peach yourself, at home, from a simple stone. However, we will warn you right away: in order for such a tree to bear fruit, you will have to make a lot of efforts. Doesn't that scare you? Then you can try. In the end, even if the fruit does not work out, you will have a beautiful and unusual plant for our latitudes. Moreover, grown independently.

Choosing the right variety

Peaches have a lot of varietal varieties. Each of them has its own characteristics, and when choosing which tree you will grow, proceed from its specific features. Hybrids are rejected immediately: even if they have a normal, seemingly complete, bone, you will never wait for a sprout from it. The fact is that hybrid plants do not reproduce.

Peach seed requirements:

They must be reasonably cold resistant.
They should easily tolerate a small amount of sunshine and have time to bear fruit.
Do not choose store-bought material, as a rule, a full-fledged plant does not turn out from it. It is best to buy the fruits in special nurseries or directly in the south, in private farms from those you can trust.
The best varieties for cultivation in central Russia: "White nectarine", "Early Riversa", "Nobles", "Early mignon", "Winner", "Amsden" and "Anasny nectarine".

There is one more point that must be taken into account when choosing a variety of future peaches. Read the characteristics of each candidate carefully and decide which one is best for you. Pay attention to:

Growing conditions;
Demanding soil, feeding, care;
Taste qualities (the early ones are usually not suitable for blanks, the later ones are harder);
Ripening speed (many late varieties simply do not have time to ripen in a short summer, so they will have to be picked in advance).

In any case, choosing the most suitable variety is the main task at the preparatory stage. In the middle lane, the requirements for the future tree are more serious than in the south, where, in principle, it is quite easy to grow any peach.

When the issue with the choice of the variety is finally resolved, it is necessary to start germinating the seed. It's amazing that such a large and beautiful tree can be obtained from just an ordinary seed, but that's what we are going to do now.

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Secrets of Successful Peach Pit Germination

Before planting a bone in the ground, it must be properly prepared for the upcoming process. Peaches do not grow very quickly, they are quite whimsical and capricious. Therefore, even at the stage of preparation for landing, you will have to tinker with them.

Stratification
First, select ripe, soft fruits. As mentioned above, only varietals are suitable. Peel the seed completely from the pulp, and then proceed to stratification. In fact, this process simulates winter conditions, prepares the future crop for germination, hardens it and awakens the spark of life. The stratification technology is applied only to those plants for which it will be rather difficult (and sometimes even impossible) to adapt to unfamiliar growing conditions without it. For a peach, mid-latitudes are significant stress. That is why you cannot do without preparation.

So, for the whole winter time, we remove the bone in a cold place with sufficient humidity. The seed must be placed in an open container on wet sand or sawdust. Keep the environment moist at all times! With a successful stratification, by the spring, by the time of planting, the peach bones will crack and sprout. As soon as you see him, move the plant to the pot.

Soil preparation and planting
Soil is essential! It should consist of half of fertile black soil (or humus), half of peat. Gently bury the bone into it, no more than 3 cm.And wait. In a peach, the root system is first formed, then the plant itself. Therefore, the sprout may not appear as soon as you would like it to. But don't be discouraged. As soon as the peach gets stronger, it will definitely appear outward, and will begin to form into a beautiful strong tree.

Plant care
Watch out for the earthen lump, the peach does not like when it is dry. Once the soil is dry, water it sparingly. Strong humidity should also not be allowed. In addition, the peach tree is very fond of the sun. In a dark place, it will wither and die. Remember: a healthy peach, which is suitable for conditions, grows, although not quickly, but confidently.

As a rule, peaches live at home. They are also planted in the ground, but caring for such whimsical "pets" will be much more difficult. Below we will talk about it, but for now - about how to grow a fruitful tree at home. Peach is a heat-loving and sun-loving culture. With a shortage of sunny days, he needs to create artificial lighting. In winter, the plant rests. He needs a temperature of about 4 degrees. Flowering and ripening of fruits begins in spring. For the process to be successful, the tree should be transferred to a warmer and brighter room with a temperature of 10-15 degrees. After the future fruits have set, for the entire summer period, the peach needs an even warmer climate: up to 25 degrees.

It is recommended to transplant the tree into a large container either before flowering or after harvesting. Soil: humus + peat + turf + sand + leafy soil (ratio 1: 1: 1: 1: 2). It is necessary to feed from early spring to late summer, twice a month. Peach needs both organic and mineral fertilizers. In addition, it must be trimmed annually and pinched off unnecessary shoots.

In the middle lane, characterized by a fleeting summer with a small amount of hot, sunny days, the plant is grown only in a greenhouse. If you want to do without a special "house", then for the winter be sure to wrap the tree with burlap, and the stem part with glass wool or other insulating materials.

You can grow a peach at home! And it's not as difficult as it sounds. But if everything works out, you can surprise your friends and relatives with juicy, fragrant fruits from your home garden!

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Video: growing a peach from a stone

We share our experience in obtaining peach seedlings from seeds. Selection of the fruits of the mother plant, preparation and planting of seeds, care of seedlings and the timing of planting young trees.

Secrets of Seed Selection

Many of you have probably already noticed the tangible changes in the climate in your region, allowing you to grow plants that were not so long ago considered exclusively southern. Based on the successful experience of innovative gardeners, let's take a closer look at how to properly plant and grow a peach from a stone. Of course, to plant a peach on your own plot, you can simply purchase a seedling in the spring. But now the seed is not cheap and not everyone has the opportunity to visit a nursery or a specialized outlet.

In addition, the purchased seedling may not be adapted to the weather conditions of your region and will only bring some disappointment: it will freeze, then it will bloom early, then in the fall the crop will not have time to ripen before the cold weather. What can we say about the varieties - in this it remains to rely solely on the decency of the seller. Growing a peach from a seed has its advantages, as you will know in advance about the taste and varietal characteristics of future crops. In addition, seedlings at the earliest stages undergo natural hardening and natural selection, therefore they are distinguished by a higher frost resistance than seedlings grown in nurseries.

Having selected the fruits you like, you can choose one of the sowing methods

Here are some recommendations that will help you choose the right seed for your future plant:

purchased fruits are not suitable - they, as a rule, are all unripe, therefore it will hardly be possible to germinate seeds;
despite the fact that the peach tree retains a significant part of the varietal characteristics of the parent plant, the best results are still observed on seedlings obtained from seeds of own-rooted, rather than grafted plants;
it is necessary to select the fruits in the fall and only well-ripened, without signs of damage by insects and rot spots.

Advice! If you purchase peaches as future seed from neighbors or acquaintances, be sure to pay attention to how, where and in what conditions the mother tree grows. The experience of successful gardeners will be the best guide for you when growing your own peach tree.

Having selected the fruits you like, you can choose one of the sowing methods or, for greater efficiency, use all of them.

Video about growing a peach from a stone

Sowing methods

The first method is sowing in the fall

If you have several seeds, then the easiest way is to sow them in moist, loose soil since autumn, so that during the winter they undergo stratification in natural conditions and in the spring a young sprout emerges from the hard shell. It is not necessary to plant deeply the bones, but it is worth covering the area with twigs and dry needles - this will reduce the likelihood that the growth will be damaged by animals or birds, and you yourself will not dig it up in the spring, forgetting about young peaches. This planting has advantages: natural hardening of the green growth and natural selection, as a result of which only strong and promising plants survive.

The second way is through stratification

When the seed is small, then the germination process can be taken under control. For this, the bones are first thoroughly washed and cleaned of pulp fibers so as not to prevent the development of putrefactive processes. In the fall, they are placed in a box or box filled with moist coarse sand and left for winter storage in a cool place.Closer to spring, the hard shell will open, and you can transplant the emerging sprout into a pot with soil for further formation of the root system.

The bones are first thoroughly washed and cleaned of pulp fibers

The third method is by extracting seeds

Natural seed stratification is rarely 100%, so sometimes it is worthwhile to fit into this process in order to germinate them faster. To do this, the seeds are opened manually with a knife, and the extracted seeds are dipped in a cup of water and left so for a couple of days, changing the water daily. Having noticed that the seeds have swollen, you can start sowing them, which, as a rule, occurs at home. It is recommended to sow each seed in a separate container with a drainage hole at the bottom, for example, a plastic cup or flower pot.

The seeds are sown in the soil with the addition of coarse sand, watered and the container is covered with a transparent film on top to create a greenhouse effect. Do not forget that such mini-greenhouses need regular ventilation and condensation removal, otherwise fungal infections may occur. It is also important to provide the growing seedlings with maximum illumination and regular watering. Home-grown seedlings should be planted in open ground in the spring.

Video about planting and growing a peach

Landing in a permanent place

If you grew young peaches by sowing seeds in open ground, then in a year the obtained seedlings, when they are already more than a meter, need to be transplanted to a permanent place. Young seedlings obtained at home are planted in the spring so that they take root well, and the green twigs get stronger before the onset of cold weather. When choosing a place on the site, one should not forget that a peach is still a thermophilic plant, therefore, a southern or southeastern location will be correct, the presence of natural or artificial fences protecting the tree from cold winds, loose, nutritious and sufficiently moist soil will provide optimal conditions for growing peaches.

Advice! Stagnation of water at the roots negatively affects the development of the tree, therefore heavy and clay soils are not suitable for planting it.

Stagnation of water at the roots negatively affects the development of the tree

Throughout the season, young seedlings need careful care:

preventive spraying against diseases and pests;
regular watering, especially on hot summer days;
if you are not sure about the nutritional value of the soil, complex mineral or organic fertilizers should be applied in summer and autumn. But at the same time, in order not to "burn" the delicate roots of the seedling, it is necessary to reduce the recommended concentration of the preparations.

Video about planting a peach in the ground

Your efforts and love will soon bear fruit - and in the fall in three or four years you will see the first harvest of peaches grown in your own garden!

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Wondering how to plant a peach? There are several ways. You can, for example, buy a seedling in the spring at the market or in the nursery. But the prices for seed are quite high, and you will only learn about the characteristics of the variety from the words of the seller, therefore it is much cheaper and more reliable to grow a seedling in your summer cottage from a seed sprouted at home.

Which peach or nectarine should you choose?

The choice of seed should be approached as responsibly as possible.

Store peaches are not good. Firstly, they are often brought from warm countries, and these varieties are unlikely to take root in the harsh Russian climate, and secondly, they pluck these fruits unripe, so the seed simply cannot germinate.
It is better to take seed from the branches of unvaccinated nectarine in order to preserve the characteristics of the variety as much as possible.
Choose as a donor only fully ripe fruits, without traces of rot and other visible defects.

Important!

If you are borrowing nectarine for sowing from your neighbors, be sure to ask them how best to care for this peach tree variety. Better than seasoned gardeners, no one will tell you how to plant a peach.

Sowing options for peach pits

If you decide to play it safe and have prepared a lot of seeds, you can sow them directly in the open ground in the fall. Make sure the soil is loose and moist enough. In winter, the seeds of a peach or nectarine are naturally stratified, and by the beginning of the summer season they should have young sprouts. Be prepared for the fact that out of 10 seeds of sprouting, there may be only one or even none.

Landing rules

Don't bury the bone deeply.
Cover the planted area with dry conifers and other branches to protect the growth from damage.

In the autumn method of planting, the seeds are subjected to natural selection and hardening, after which they can more easily tolerate frosts. Therefore, the seed that sprouts as a result, with proper care, will necessarily turn into healthy and fertile trees.

Stratification at home

If you only managed to get a few peach pits, you need to take personal control of the stratification procedure.

Take recently picked fruits, remove seeds.
Rinse seeds well and remove fibers.
Place them in a small box of coarse, moistened sand.
Place the container in a cool, dark place and leave it there until spring.
When the process makes its way through the shell, transplant the seed into a pot, where the formation of roots will continue, if proper care is taken.

Pre-extraction of seeds

During natural seed stratification, it is rarely possible to achieve one hundred percent efficiency, so sometimes, in order to speed up the cultivation of a peach from a seed, it makes sense to help this process at home.

Open the bones by hand in the fall. Dip them in a container of water for several days (the water should be changed every day). Once the seeds are swollen, start sowing.

Prepare a separate pot with a drainage hole for each seed.
Pour earth mixed in equal proportions with coarse sand there.
Place the seed.
Cover with clear wrap for a greenhouse effect.
Place the seedlings in the most luminous area.

Seedlings need constant care. Water and ventilate greenhouses, make sure that condensation does not accumulate in them. Plant the grown peaches outdoors in the spring.

The choice of a permanent place and the final planting of the plant

The next year, after the seeds, planted in the autumn, have sprouted in the open field, they will turn into full-fledged seedlings a little more than one meter high. At this time, they can already be transplanted to the main place.

Those seedlings that were grown at home on the windowsill can be planted in the first spring where you want to see a peach tree in the future. Before the onset of autumn frosts, they will have time to get stronger and take root.

An important point is the choice of the optimal place for the peach:

south or southeast of the site;
not far from a natural or artificial fence, which will serve as protection from the wind;
the soil should be loose, nutritious, well moistened.

Advice

Moisture stagnation at the roots causes the tree to rot and die, so never plant either peach or nectarine in heavy, clay soil.

Young seedlings require constant care and attention.

Be sure to spray trees against diseases and pests.
Water them regularly.
Fertilize the soil with mineral and organic compounds. This should be done very carefully so as not to harm the delicate young roots.

Seedlings that have not yet formed are often sick, therefore, they will benefit from feeding with liquid manure and spraying with insecticides, for example, "Ridomil" or "Tiovit", which will protect the nectarine from pests.

When the tree grows up to 70 centimeters, you will need to form a crown for it:

get rid of side branches;
remove deformed and weak stems.

In 3-4 years you will be able to get the first crop of peaches from your own garden.

Growing a homemade peach in a pot

A tree with peaches can be grown not only on a personal plot, but also on a windowsill. True, the first harvest will have to wait 5-6 years. Nectarine is a very capricious plant, so it needs careful care and attention.

According to the cultivation method, a peach in a pot is almost indistinguishable from a nectarine in an open field. Only in the first case, the bone must be immersed in a growth stimulator for several hours before planting.

Keep the soil always moist.
Cover the pot with plastic.
Open the film for a few hours every day.
As soon as the seed sprouts, the cellophane can be removed.

If you are lucky, the stone at home will not only sprout roots, but also the stem of the future peach tree will begin to form. At this time, the plant needs especially gentle care and abundant daily watering.

Date of publication:Growing