Has anyone had luck propagating the seeds from 'store bought' fruit? I can NEVER get them grow? Any thoughts

Question

There are several types of fruit that I would love to start from seed so my students can have projects throughout the year. I am hoping someone can give me details on how to get them to start sprouting. Except for an avocado, which won't grow in our area once they are planted, I've had no luck getting anything to sprout! If you have ANY tricks, tips or ideas, PLEASE pass them on!!! Thanks so much!!!!

Answer 1

At the moment i have lemon pips on my kitchen window and have no trouble getting them started i also have  six in a plastic bag on the fridge

Usually i wash pips straight from fresh lemon then at the pointed end of pip with your finger nail you should nick the top ( i use craft knife ) and be able to pull off a membrane coating from pip. Once i have done this, i fold two sheets of kitchen roll on top of each other, fold in half and half again run under the tap and gently squeeze excess water off. Then place pips onto kitchen roll and fold over making a nice little package, then place inside a plastic bag and put on top of fridge you should see a root within 10 days. Pot on in small pot and watch them grow.

good Luck also works with cumquats.

Answer 2

I have got orange and lemon pips to grow, but not plums or apples.

Answer 3

I have never managed to get them to grow either. I've had great luck with trees, with seeds from my own trees,and with other seeds that were specifically bought for planting.

The fruit that they sell in the stores is often hybridized and infertile, so even if you get them to sprout, it's very likely that you won't get any fruits or flowers.

I suggest getting actual seeds from a nursery or even from Lowe's/ Home Depot.

Answer 4

On the contrary ! We have grown lemons, tangerines, plums, cherries, apricots, oranges plants from store bought fruits.

Just plant the seeds or pits inside a pot and water weekly ,it takes a long time for them to come up,  all in good time!

Answer 5

Most fruit sold in stores is either a hybrid fruit (genetically altered for better yield, larger fruit, sweeter taste, etc) as opposed to HEIRLOOM fruit from genuine seeds or is treated with chemcials to prevent seeding.  Heirloom fruit tends to rot faster, etc so is therefore not as marketable as hybrids.

Most fruits and vegetables are now hybrids; designed to resist many diseases, fungi or viri.

Farmers Markets may have heirloom vegetables/fruits, though.  

Another thing about store-bought fruit is that they are often coated with a chemical that adds preservatives to the fruit, to make them look nicer, last longer etc.  This chemical also prevents many of the fruits and vegetables to sprout from seed.

Answer 6

It is usually impossible to grow plants from fruit in the store.  They generally sell fruit from plants that are hybrid and cannot reproduce.  You'll have to buy seeds.

Answer 7

My brother who is a green thumb (which really means to me someone who takes the time to care for plants) has sproted a date seed and various other seeds he had a small date palm and  pretty sure orange too,from fruit from the store.  My aunt started a lemon tree from seed as well.  No tricks taht I know of personally but it can be done.

Answer 8

you might try a heat mat to warm up the soil

Answer 9

I've grown Lychee into quite a small shrub and some fruit called Chikee or something like that, by soaking seeds and keeping them warm and damp. Remember most 'foreign' fruit or exotic species grow in much hotter climates. Pick a fruit, google it and see where it comes from then you can try to reproduce the conditions they like. Most of the fruit will like humid and hot conditions which you can't reproduce without a heated propogator. You are unlikely to get them to grow outside although my friend had a huge avocado tree outside his house in London. Kiwi is easy too but it's quicker just to buy one.