Learn how to grow nectarine tree from seed or its stone pit, as I have grown it in Sydney, Australia. People often ask, can you grow a nectarine tree from a seed. Yes, a nectarine tree can easily be grown from its pit. My nectarine tree growing in a pot produced fruits in just 2 years. The best part of growing nectarine tree from seed is that you need only one tree to get fruits as the nectarine trees are self-fertile, so they do not need cross-pollination from another nectarine tree.
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| Nectarine Fruits from a nectarine tree grown from a seed |
The method of growing a nectarine tree from seed is similar to that of peaches and plums and other stone fruits (how to grow plums from seeds). The steps for growing nectarine tree from a seed shown here gives 100 % success rate. The above photo shows nectarine fruits from a nectarine tree that was grown from a seed. how to grow nectarine tree in pot | how to grow nectarines from cuttings
It takes a few weeks to grow a nectarine tree from seed, if the seed has undergone proper stratification procedure.
Nectarine Seed Stratification
Now see how to germinate a nectarine seed.
- To simulate conditions suitable for germination, the nectarine seeds need a cold temperature environment between 1-5°C (33-41°F) for about 2-4 months prior to germination.
- You can stratify the whole pit or first open the seeds from the pits and then stratify them. I stratified the seed, because I wanted to plant only the seed that has sprouted during the process.
- It may be pointed out that the nectarine seeds may germinate without the stratification process if the nectarines in store have come from cold storage. But you never know, so it is better to put the seeds for stratification to ensure success.
Growing Nectarine Tree From Seed
Growing nectarines from seeds or pit is easy. Following are the step
Buy fully ripe nectarines and remove their stones/pits.
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| Nectarine Pit |
- Wash the nectarine pits in water to completely remove any pulp.
- Crack Open the Nectarine Seed from the Pit: To crack open the seed, do not hit the round side of the pit with a hammer, it may break the seed. Hit the sharp side of the pit to take out the seed without breaking.
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| Nectarine Seed |
- Soak the seeds in water for 1 day. Discard any floating seeds, they will not germinate.
- Now take a paper towel and wrap the soaked seeds in it, then s on it pray some water. Enclose the folded paper in a Ziploc bag and place the bag in the fridge.
- The seeds will take 2 to 4 months to sprout. But you have to open the bag and check the seeds in every 15 days to see if the nectarine seed germination has started. Change the paper if mould develops and seal it again in the Ziploc bag and place in the fridge.
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| Germinated nectarine seed |
Planting Germinated Nectarine Seeds in Soil
- Next step is to plant the sprouted nectarine seeds soil.
- Take a pot having drainage holes at its bottom.
- Fill the pot a free draining soil, standing water in the pot will rot the seed. Mix some river sand in soil if it is clay. Sand will make the soil free-draining otherwise
- Plant the germinated nectarine seed 1 inch deep in soil and water.
- Place the pot in shade at a warm place. Keep the soil damp. The nectarine seedling will grow in a few days. Plant the seedling in a free draining fertile soil.
Nectarine Tree grown from Seed
Nectarine Flowers and Fruits
You may be wondering to know how long will it take to grow a nectarine tree from seed to bear fruits, Nectarine trees grown from seeds can bear fruits in 2 to 4 years after planting. The fruits require about 4 months to be ready for harvest after the flowers are pollinated.
Grow Nectarine tree from seeds video
How to grow nectarine tree from seed video
Video on Nectarine Tree
Grow Nectarine tree from seeds video
How to grow nectarine tree from seed video