What is the proper way to dry and plant a plum tree from a plum seed that you bought at the grocery store?

Question

i live in a very similar climate in which the plum grew.

any suggestions on how long to dry the seed and how and when to plant it? thanks!

Answer 1

Plum seeds do not need to be scarified. You can dry it on a counter top or window sill. You can start it indoors in a pot anytime. As stated it will not grow true to type unless it is a European type plum ( Damson, Elephant Heart ) sometimes called " Prune Plums "

Japanese and American or hybrids of the two do not grow true becuase they require two varities for pollination and are therefore all hybrids.  

Answer 2

the ideal place would be a hot house, but for an average household your best bet would be to place the seed in a plastic container and simply put it on top of your hot water system and leave for a week or until the seed shows signs of dehydrating.  you could also try putting the container infront of an air conditioners warm exhaust.  planting, roughly sow the seed to a depth of twice the size of the seed, do this mainly in the warmer months.

Answer 3

You will have to scarify your seed or scratch it with sand paper to get it to germinate.  Plum seeds are very hard and they take a long time to germinate.  In nurseries they sometimes use acid to achieve this but I am not recommending that since I am really not sure how to do this safely.  You can plant them any time.  Easier to do this in the spring but you can try to get it started now.  

Your seed may or may not be true to the fruit that you are trying to grow.  In other words it might change on account of it isn't a certain cultivar.  You can plant any number of plum trees from seed and not get a plant exactly like the fruit that you originally started with.  Best to buy one that is a true cultivar of the plant represented but if you have the time? Easier to buy one already growing.