The next time you’re about to toss the pit or seeds from your favorite fruit, think twice. Why not plant it to grow a new fruit tree? Growing fruit trees from seed requires time and patience, but the reward is well worth it.
Many of the fruits you buy from the grocery store or farmer’s market can be propagated from their seeds or pits. However, it’s important to understand that they generally don’t grow true. For example, if you plant a Honeycrisp apple seed, you will get an apple tree, but not a Honeycrisp apple.
Most fruit trees are cross-pollinated and produce seeds with a mix of genetics from two trees. Professional growers propagate fruit trees by grafting to rootstock, which will produce the desired variety. Planting by seed won’t give you the same type, but it can still produce a tasty fruit. This is how we get new varieties. It can be fun to try and see what you get.
How to Grow Fruit Trees from Seed or Pit
Planting fruit tree seeds or pits isn’t drastically different from starting any plant from seed, but it can require a few additional steps, depending on the fruit.
If you’re planting a fruit that is cold hardy, like an apple or peach, it needs to be cold stratified. They only germinate after a period of cold temperatures. Plant them in the ground in the fall or keep them in the refrigerator over winter and plant them in spring.
For tropical fruits that are not cold hardy, plant the seeds any time of year. If you live in a colder climate, grow these types of fruit trees in containers. You can move them outside in summer and bring them back indoors for the colder months.
Pits from stone fruits will germinate more readily if you crack the hard outer coating. Just take care not to damage the embryo inside. A light cracking is sufficient.
Smaller seeds benefit from soaking in water for 24 to 48 hours before planting. If planting seeds and pits directly outdoors, use wire mesh over the top and pushed into the ground to prevent squirrels and other animals from digging them up.
1. Apples
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There are so many different types of apples available at stores and farmers’ markets. By growing your own tree from seed, you might just discover a new type with desirable characteristics. Regardless of how the fruit turns out, you’ll have a new tree.
Plant apple seeds outside in the fall to stratify over winter or keep them in a bag with moist paper towel in the refrigerator and plant in spring. They need at least 80 days in the refrigerator. Use several seeds to ensure you get at least one that germinates and sprouts.
You can comfortably grow apple trees in USDA zones 3-8 but you will need to be patient, as they can take five to ten years to bear fruit.
2. Citrus
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Harvesting citrus fruit seeds, such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, and growing them into trees is surprisingly easy. In USDA zones 8-11, citrus trees can be grown outside, while in cooler zones, they will need to overwinter indoors.
As warm weather plants, you don’t need to cold stratify citrus seeds. Just make sure they’re clean and dry before planting.
Plant in a container using several seeds at once and thinning out seedlings as necessary. Keep the medium moist, using a plastic bag over the container if needed to increase moisture. Position it in a warm, sunny spot as the seeds sprout and grow.
It could take up to ten years to get fruit from your new citrus tree.
3. Peaches and Plums
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Peaches and plums are two stone fruits you can grow from their pits, although, as with other fruits, will not grow true. Both types of trees can be successfully grown in USDA Zones 4 to 9.
Start by cleaning the pits. Get as much of the fruit pulp off as possible. Use several pits, as they may not all germinate. Use a nutcracker to gently and lightly crack the pits.
Cold stratify your pits in the refrigerator with moist paper towels or plant outside in the fall. Plums need 60 to 90 cold days, while peaches need 98 to 105 days. If stratifying indoors, keep the paper towel moist throughout winter and plant the sprouted pits outside in spring. Protect seedlings from critters using mesh.
Expect your peach or plum tree to take three to six years to produce fruit.
4. Avocado
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Planting an avocado pit is a fun activity, but takes a little extra care compared to other fruits. They can be grown outdoors in USDA zones 8-11. In cooler zones, they can be grown indoors as an attractive leafy houseplant, but are unlikely to fruit.
Start with a clean, dry pit. Use your fingernail or the edge of a spoon to peel off the brown skin, which can get moldy. Stick a few toothpicks into the pit. Rest these on the top of a glass of water so that the bottom half of the pit is submerged.
Keep the pit in a warm spot with indirect light and refresh the water whenever levels drop significantly. It can take a few months – as long as eight months – but eventually, you’ll see a root emerge. You can then plant the pit in soil in a container.
Look for sprouts in a month or two and fruit after seven to ten years.
5. Pears
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Growing pears from seed is not difficult, and the trees thrive in USDA zones 4-8. Like apples, pears need cold stratification for at least 80 days.
Plant outdoors in the fall or keep the seeds in a moist bag in the refrigerator. Soak seeds overnight before planting in a container or in the ground to help trigger germination.
You can grow seeds from any variety of pear, including Asian pears. It takes three to ten years to get fruit from a seed-planted pear tree.
6. Guava
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This tasty tropical fruit can easily be grown from seed and enjoyed outdoors in USDA zones 9-11, or as a container plant in colder zones.
To grow guava from seeds, remove and clean the seeds and soak them for 24 hours before planting in the ground or in containers. They do not need cold stratification.
Ensure your sprouted seeds have plenty of full sunlight and stay warm. They grow best in rich, moist soil. With good care and patience, you should see fruits on the tree in about eight years.
