How to Grow Fruit Trees from Seed or Pit

It is very gratifying and economical to grow your own fruit. Fruit trees require very little care once they are established. You germinate a tree from the seed or pit of the fruit. First, make sure the type of fruit tree you want to grow will grow in your zone. There is link in the resource section below that will help you find this information. Collect fruit seeds and pits to grow your tree. You can expect to have ripe fruit from your tree within a few years. Growing fruit seeds will require stratification in the refrigerator or other area below 40 degrees F. A fruit tree will reward you for your labor quickly by returning year after year of fresh, local, free fruit.

Choose very ripe fruit. If the fruit clings tightly to the pit or seed, the fruit may not be ripe enough. It can be beneficial to choose fruit that you find particularly tasty. Although it is not guaranteed that the seed's offspring will have identical characteristics, it will improve your chance of growing a fruit tree you love. Remove the pit.

If the fruit has a pit, crack the hard outer shell of fruit pits with vice grips. Be very careful when you do this not to damage the seed inside. You do not want to use a hammer, pliers or any object that might damage the seed inside the pit. Vice grips are ideal because they will not close past a determined point. You do not need to remove the seed from the fruit pit. It is better if you do not because this may cause damage to the seed. Simply make sure the pit is cracked.

Three months before your last frost date, place the fruit seed in a small plastic cup filled with good potting soil or compost. The plastic cup will need to be small enough to fit into a ziplock baggie. Dampen the soil, being careful not to make it soggy. Place the cup inside the baggie. Zip the bag closed. Store it inside the refrigerator until your last frost date has passed.

Just after your last frost date, take the cup out of the refrigerator and the bag. You should notice roots have developed. Place it in a sunny window keeping the soil moist and the temperature at about 70 degrees. After a few weeks of adapting to the new temperature, you can transplant you small fruit tree outdoors. Spring is the perfect time to transplant. When you are ready to plant your fruit tree outside, clear the area of weeds and grass. Keep the new tree well mulched and watered. Don't forget to mark the location of your tree with a stake, so you do not accidentally mow over it.