Have you grown peach trees from seed?

Question

The latest Mother Earth News has an article on growing peaches from seeds taken out of locally grown peaches. They say to split the hull, take out the seed, then put it in damp soil in the fridge for one to three months until they begin to sprout roots. (That's the extremely edited version of the directions.) They said that peaches actually self-sow very easily, but we've had peach pits in our compost bin for years which have never begun to break down or grow. Has anyone had luck growing peach trees from seed?

Answer 1

I certainly wouldn't argue with Carl about how to grow a peach tree from seed but I would say that the peaches you eventually will very probably not be anything like the peach the seed came from because peaches you buy at the store are from hybrids and usually don't grow true from seed.  I'm not tell you not to try, just be aware of what you might get.

Answer 2

I think you have it a little mixed up.

First don't split the pit.  Just put the pit in damp but not soggy peat moss.  Then put it in the fridge but don't let it dry out.  Take it out in a few months and plant it in your garden.

Charlie is correct.  You will end up with who knows what.  Peaches are usually started with Lovell peach pits. It's a peach used in canning I think. Then they are budded to the peach you want like Red Haven etc.   You take one bud and place it on the Lovell rootstock and grow it.  It's a lot of work.  That's why the nurseries can get so much for the trees.