Growing peaches from pits, germination methods, planting, seedling care

Growing peaches from stones is not a very simple task, but it is doable.

This option for obtaining seedlings even has some advantages.

To avoid mistakes, it is better to first study the recommendations of experienced gardeners.

Content:

How to grow a peach from a pit, why is it better than a grafted one?
Variety selection
Preparation of planting material, cold and warm germination methods
Growing in open ground
How to trim a peach from the pit
How to grow a peach in the country: useful care tips

How to grow a peach from a pit, why is it better than a grafted one?

Grow a tree from a seed It’s quite possible, but in order to get a healthy tree and a big harvest, you need to know some nuances.

You should not use fruit seeds that you purchased at the market. It is better to use a peach grown by friends or neighbors for this. The main thing is that the peach grows in the same climatic conditions.

It is also better to use fruits from a rooted tree than from a grafted plant. In the second case, the probability of successfully growing a peach from a stone is minimal.

It is important that the fruit from which the planting material is taken is mature and healthy. If there are any defects or damage, it should not be used.

There are a number of advantages to germinating peach this way:

Cheap and productive method.Good productive seedlings are expensive, and not everyone has the opportunity to buy them, but this method is available to everyone.
At home, you can carry out good stratification, which will speed up the process of germination and germination.
A tree grown in this way is much more resistant to climatic conditions than a grafted one.
If you follow all the recommendations and properly care for the material, the germination percentage is quite high. However, you should not expect quick results.

Variety selection

Preference should be given to zoned varieties. Firstly, they adapt best to climatic conditions, do not require additional lighting and heat, and quickly become accustomed to each specific region.

Also, when choosing a variety, you should consider the following characteristics:

The variety must be self-pollinating, this will increase the yield several times.
Frost resistance - if you plan to plant a peach in open ground, then it is better to take a winter-hardy variety.
Early ripening - gardeners recommend using early ripening varieties, since they bear fruit abundantly and the first fruits can be eaten at the end of July or beginning of August.

The following varieties have all these characteristics:

Kyiv early.
Redhaven.
Victors.
Kremlevsky.
Big Honey, which, unlike other types, has very large fruits.
Myra.
The Shrifta seedling, although a late variety, is also famous for its good performance and productivity.

Each variety has its own characteristics, so before planting them you should familiarize yourself with the individual characteristics.

Preparation of planting material, cold and warm germination methods

Now let's look at the technology for preparing material for planting.

Peach pits should initially be thoroughly washed and dried. This will protect the seed from rotting. Before planting, the seeds should be filled with water and soaked for a short period of time, and then carefully pricked on one side.

Some prefer speed up the germination process and stratification, so they take the seed out of the seed. The obtained seed is also soaked in water.

In order for the material to swell, water is renewed daily until sprouts appear. Then the seeds are transplanted into separate pots with soil.

There are two more methods of germination: warm and cold; we will consider each method separately.

Cold germination of grains:

Take a deep dish without a lid and fill it with wet peat or sand. If you use sand, it is better to take coarse-grained, washed and screened sand to remove foreign particles and debris.
Deepen the pit into peat or sand, depth - from 6 to 8 cm.
Place the dishes in a plastic bag. Before doing this, make a hole in the bag so that the plant is saturated with air. Then the container in the bag is placed in the refrigerator for the entire winter period.
Periodically you need to open the bag and check the condition of the peat. Moisten with a spray bottle if necessary. You should be careful with watering; if the soil is over-moistened, the seed will rot.

In the 4th month the sprouts will hatch, sometimes this happens after 3 months.

Now the container should be removed from the refrigerator and the seeds should be planted in separate flowerpots. Be sure to make drainage holes in the pots; use a mixture of peat, leaf soil and humus as soil.

Place the flowerpots in a room with enough light.

It is important to maintain the same temperature regime. Initially, the temperature should be no more than plus ten degrees; for this, the pot can be taken out onto the veranda or glazed balcony.

And after a couple of days, bring the pot into a room with a temperature of plus eighteen degrees.

Watering should be carried out as the soil dries.

Using the warm germination method, the seeds are planted almost immediately in flowerpots with prepared soil, and with proper care, the long-awaited sprouts will appear in 60 days.

The whole process goes like this:

For stratification, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator for a period of 6 to 10 days.
After the specified period, the material is taken out and soaked for several hours in a growth stimulator.
The soil in the pot is slightly moistened and the seed is deepened by 8 cm. The pot is covered with glass or a plastic bag.
Open the glass daily for ventilation and remove condensation.
Place the pot in a lighted place and water it periodically.
After 4 months, the sprouts will hatch, then you need to remove the glass or polyethylene and place the pot in a room where there are no drafts and no direct rays of the sun.

The gardener decides which method to choose.

Let's watch a useful video on how to grow a peach from a pit and learn how to germinate a pit:

Growing in open ground

Planting in open ground should be carried out next year in March or early September. By this time, the sprouts will have become stronger and will be able to grow in the garden plot.

If you follow all the recommendations, the seedling can grow up to a meter and a half in height in a year.

Here are some practical tips:

If you plant several seedlings at the same time, then you need to take into account the distance between the trees; it should be at least four meters. The same distance should be maintained if the seedling is planted close to a building or fence.
A place without drafts and well lit is selected as a site.
Before planting, fertilizers are added to the soil.
The depth of the hole is 1 meter. When the tree is inserted into the hole, it should be well compacted with soil on top.

Next, a lot depends on care. While the tree is young and not well-adapted, it requires special care; in the future it is important to monitor watering and carry out preventive manipulations against pests.

The tree will be pleased with the harvest in a couple of years. The peach bears fruit for twelve years.

How to trim a peach from the pit

The pruning procedure is necessary to create a beautiful crown, increase productivity and extend life.

The first pruning is carried out when the tree trunk grows to seventy centimeters and the side branches have grown significantly. Pruning is performed to form the crown or crown.

For peaches, the pyramid shape is best; it is both beautiful and practical.

The tree should not be allowed to grow upward, since fruit formation occurs mainly on the side shoots.

The following basic pruning procedure will be performed in the spring. It is necessary to begin manipulation at a time when the buds are swollen and the inflorescences have not yet had time to bloom.

This period generally falls from March 15th to April 20th, depending on the weather. In addition to trimming the crown, frozen and diseased shoots should be removed.

Every year, vigorous branches are additionally removed or pinched.

How to grow a peach in the country: useful care tips

After planting, the peach requires good care, especially at a young age.

For the first few years, it is important to be extremely careful and carry out the following manipulations:

Regular watering is dangerous both from drought and excess water, so watering is carried out depending on weather conditions.
Treatment of trees against pests and diseases characteristic of this crop.
To prevent insect damage, it is worth spraying the peach with Bordeaux mixture or fungicides.
At a certain stage of development, a tree has its own specific treatment, since at different times the plant may be susceptible to a new disease. It is important to purchase suitable medications in specialized stores and strictly follow the instructions.
Feeding with organic and inorganic substances.
Trimming.

Preparing for winter involves mulching the space near the tree trunk using fallen leaves or spruce branches.

Let's watch an interesting video about growing peaches from seeds in open ground:

It is recommended to wrap the trunk itself with burlap.

So, growing a peach from a pit is not that difficult if you follow the recommendations.

The main thing is to choose high-quality seed material and provide proper care throughout the entire period.