How to grow an apricot tree from a seed at home and in the garden

Selection and preparation of planting material

Growing apricots from pits requires preliminary seed selection. Pits can be taken from overripe fruits. Experts recommend growing large quantities to select the best ones for planting. How do you germinate a pit?

First, you need to conduct a germination test. To do this, place the future planting material in a container and fill it with water. The water should be at room temperature. If the seed floats, it is not suitable for growing an apricot seedling.

Once the planting material has been selected, you can immediately proceed to the second stage of preparation—disinfection. To plant apricots from a seed, soak the seeds in a potassium permanganate solution for 12 hours. The next step is soaking. You can grow an apricot from a seed only after soaking the seeds in water for 10 days. It's important to change the water every day.

When discussing how to grow an apricot tree from a seed in a pot, it's crucial to mention the stratification process. Hardening off the seeds is crucial. It will help grow a fruiting plant and speed up the germination process. Dry the seeds, place them in a paper bag, and sprinkle them with damp sand. It's important that the bag be clean. Otherwise, it's unlikely the seeds will grow into a fruiting tree. Place them in the refrigerator for 100 days. The temperature for stratification should be between 0 and 2°C.

If you haven't hardened the seeds, you can do so in an emergency. To grow a tree in temperate climates, soak the dry seeds in water for 3-4 days. Change the water daily and keep it cold. Place the soaked seeds in damp sand and add sawdust. Freeze the apricot pits at 4°C above freezing. This will prepare the apricot pits for planting and help grow the apricot tree.

Features of planting seeds

Having learned how to grow an apricot from a seed, it's also worth understanding the planting process. You'll need a plastic container or pot and a nutrient-rich substrate. It's best to use a ready-made potting mix. It's recommended to plant in a soil mixture suitable for vegetable seedlings.

When figuring out how to grow an apricot from a seed in a pot, it's important to note that fertile soil should be added over the drainage layer. The seeds should be planted at a depth of 3.5 cm to 5 cm. Later, when the sprouts appear, you can select the strongest and most vigorous ones for planting.

To speed up germination, planted apricot seeds should be watered and covered with plastic wrap. Periodically remove the plastic wrap to moisten the soil and allow for ventilation. Growing apricots from a seed at home is quite easy. It's just important to keep these germination considerations in mind to ensure successful seedling production.

Growing sprouts

This method has a number of nuances that must be taken into account to ensure a fully grown tree that will bear fruit. The seeds that are sown are those that have been prepared and germinated in advance (at a dacha in the Moscow region, this usually happens after the frost sets in). This ensures natural stratification of the seeds. It is also possible to grow the tree without this process by creating it artificially, as described above.

After all the preparation steps, growing an apricot from a seed won't require much effort once the sprouts have emerged. They're now safe. These sprouts can easily withstand even severe frosts, even when the temperature outside is -40°C.

Transplantation into open ground

It's best to do this in the spring. The optimal time for transplanting is mid-spring. By planting the prepared seeds at this time, you'll see that the apricot grows very quickly. It's best to choose a sunny spot. Prepare the planting hole 20 days in advance. It should be about 50 cm deep. Some grow this plant by digging holes in the ground. In this case, the holes should be 70 cm long.

How to plant in a prepared hole? To ensure a good fruiting of a seedling, choose a location away from the water table. Fertile loam is preferable. After planting, surround the tree with a ridge of soil and water it.

Further care

Now you know how to properly plant and grow apricots from seed. Remember that proper planting and care are the two key components to a good harvest. Therefore, follow these guidelines when growing apricots.

During the period of active growth (from May to June), provide the tree with regular, abundant watering.

To protect the plant from diseases and pests, whitewash the trunks in early spring. Don't forget to shape the crown annually. However, remember that these trees do not tolerate deep pruning for rejuvenation.

Video "Apricot from a Pit"

This video will show you how to plant an apricot pit correctly.