Sweet, juicy peaches grow on trees that are relatively hardy, and each peach carries its own pit for seeding new trees. These large, hard pits are referred to as "stones" and peaches, plums and cherries are known as "stone fruits." Although a peach stone will not grow true to the fruit it came from, it has the best chance of growing into a peach tree if you start your peach stone in autumn. The stones need a cold spell to "crack" them and begin germination.

  • Sweet, juicy peaches grow on trees that are relatively hardy, and each peach carries its own pit for seeding new trees.
  • The stones need a cold spell to "crack" them and begin germination.

Wash the stone to get rid of any fruit matter.

Clean a 15 cm (6 inch) pot with drainage holes. You'll need to cultivate the peach tree in a container as the tree won't survive outdoors in the UK's cold winters.

Add 2.5 cm (1 inch) of quick-draining loam and the same amount of organic compost to ensure a loose foundation for root growth. Fill the pot full of starter soil for good germination.

  • Add 2.5 cm (1 inch) of quick-draining loam and the same amount of organic compost to ensure a loose foundation for root growth.

Plant the peach stone 10 cm (4 inches) deep. Place the pot outdoors, in a protected location.

Water the stone with 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water a week. Expect sprouting in spring.

Transplant potted peach seedlings to larger pots after sprouting.

TIP

Peach trees begin producing fruit when they are two to three years old. After they begin to produce, fruit grows only on first-year growth, so the tree needs annual pruning.

WARNING

Peach trees are susceptible to numerous pests and diseases.