Guide to Planting a Peach Pit

Having a peach tree is the dream of many, but planting a peach pit that bears fruit is not so simple, as there are many types of peaches and whether the pit will bear fruit or not will depend on them, as well as its flavor.Also, whether the type of peach pit it derives from will depend on whether the peach seed germinates or not, so it will be a task of trial and error with various types of peaches. The best thing is to ensure that the peach came from your country, as it will have a better chance of adapting to the soil and climate. Most peaches need a constant temperature below 7 degrees Celsius to bear fruit.The first way of how to plant a peach pit can be directly in the ground during the fall and wait for germination in the spring naturally. To prepare peach seeds, rub them with a soft brush in clean water. If the peach was so ripe that the pit has opened, the actual seed inside will be revealed.If not, you can remove the hard outer layer and simply plant the seed grain. Always handle the seeds with care, as they contain cyanide and are highly poisonous.If you successfully extracted the seed without damaging it, the germination process will accelerate after planting. However, this is not necessary, as small trees grow from many of the hard pits.You can plant peach pits directly in the garden soil if you live in an area where winters are long and cold, but wait until the summer heat has passed. You can store your seeds in the refrigerator for at least 8 weeks or from fall to spring, and they will have a much higher chance of germinating.Make a hole approximately 7.6 centimeters (3 inches) deep and plant the peach pit outdoors in the fall, in well-drained, fertile soil, with a pH of around 6. Firmly pack the soil around the pit and make sure it is slightly moist and do not overwater.Photo by Joanna Stolowicz, Unsplash.How to germinate a peach pitTo avoid waiting for the natural process until spring and in case you live in a warm place, you can germinate a peach pit through a cold treatment or stratification.After cleaning the pits and removing the seeds, place them in a plastic bag with slightly moist soil. They should be moist but not wet during their cooling period (stratification). Store them in the refrigerator (or freezer) at a temperature of 1.1 to 5.6 degrees Celsius.After six weeks, check if the peach pit has germinated. Don't be discouraged if it hasn't happened yet; seeds can take more than three months to germinate.Once the pit has developed a root of at least 1.3 centimeters long, plant it in the soil in a pot until spring arrives, then transplant your tree outdoors in the spring.Planting a peach and watching it bloom will take between three and five years, so don't despair and always germinate more than one pit of different peach types to increase your chances.Did this make you crave peaches? Try these recipes:Peach Upside Down CakeHomemade Peach JamPeach Charlotte