How to Plant Peach Seeds in a Pot

Overview

Growing a peach tree from seed, or the pit, takes time. Many peach pits are difficult or impossible to germinate, so the most important thing is to find peach seeds from parent trees that are the easy-to-germinate varieties. The stratification, or cold treatment, process is lengthy for peach seeds, but it is necessary for successful germination. With a little patience, you can easily plant and grow peach seeds in a pot.

Step 1

Choose seeds from peach varieties that germinate easily. Some seeds won't germinate at all and others may germinate slowly or need laboratory culturing like "embryo rescue" to germinate. Avoid choosing seeds from early season varieties, because these won't germinate readily.

Step 2

Clean the seeds to remove all the peach flesh. Dry the seeds overnight. Place the seeds in a plastic bag that is opened slightly and store them in your refrigerator until they're dry.

Step 3

Store the seeds in the refrigerator or at room temperature until December or January. Then, soak the peach seeds in tap water for two to three hours. Place the seeds in a plastic bag filled with slightly moist potting soil, perlite or vermiculite. Store the bag in the refrigerator at 34 to 42 degrees F for a month and a half. This cold treatment is a germination process called stratification.

Step 4

Look for germination and check to see if the seeds have developed roots. When you see a root begin to develop on a peach seed, place the seed in a pot that has drain holes and is filled with a high-quality commercial potting soil containing a mixture of sand, silt and organic matter.

Step 5

Firm the soil around the peach seeds and moisten it evenly with water. Keep the soil moist but not too wet or continuously saturated. The peach pits are highly susceptible to rot. Simply water the soil evenly when it begins to dry out slightly. Place the pot in full sunlight.