Re: [nafex] Growing peach seeds

["Margie Luffman" <luffmanm@EM.AGR.CA>]

Hello everyone. Due to an OVERWHELMING response for a mailed or faxed version of the following information, I enlisted some help and quickly got the old information re-typed in an electronic format, then cut and pasted it into this message. If anyone has problems with this message please let me know and I will mail or fax it. For clarification purposes, Javex is simply regular laundry bleach and Thiram is a common fungicide.

Let's hope for a return of spring weather!

Margie


APRICOT AND PEACH SEED STRATIFICATION - HARROW METHODS

Natural Stratification:

Bailey peach and Haggith apricot seeds can be fall planted successfully without cracking if soaked in a THIRAM solution* for not more than 24 hours before field planting. Siberian C, Harrow Blood and Rutgers Red Leaf peach do NOT respond well to fall planting.

Artificial Stratification:
If the following artificial procedures are used, apricot seeds will sprout after 40 to 50 days of chilling and peach seeds after 60 to 90 days of chilling.

Small Lots
 
1. Crack pits and remove seeds. Soak seeds in 10% solution of Javex for 5 minutes then rinse 10 times in fresh water. Soak these seeds again overnight in a Thiram solution* and DRAIN.
2. Place soaked seeds in a clean glass container, stopper lightly with cotton batten and store in the dark at 36-38F (2-3C).
3. Stir daily and sprinkle lightly with distilled or rain water.
4. Keep moist but not wet by pouring off surplus water if it accumulates at the bottom of the container.
5. Remove mouldy seeds as soon as mould is detected.
6. Stratification is complete when the seed coat is cracked and the small root begins to emerge.
7. Plant seeds in 2¼" round peat pots using sterile soil or compost and grow in flats until 6" to 12" tall.
8. Transplant to the nursery row in the field at 6 to 8-inch spacing in the row and 42 inches between rows after danger of all frost has passed.


Large Lots
 
Large lots of seed require some modification, especially if greenhouse facilities are not available for growing transplants.

1. Use the same sanitation methods as outlined for small lots.
2. Place soaked seeds in sterilized, plastic lined greenhouse flats but avoid piling seeds more than 2 inches deep. Store in the dark at 36-38F (2-3C).
3. Stir daily and sprinkle lightly with distilled or rain water.
4. Keep moist but not wet by puncturing a few holes in the bottom of the plastic lining to prevent water from accumulating.
5. Remove moldy seeds as soon as mould is detected.
6. Stratification is complete when the seed coat is cracked and the small root begins to emerge.
7. Do no plant seeds outdoors until the danger of hard frost has passed and the soil has warmed up to a temperature of approximately 50F (10C).
8. Plant the seeds directly outdoors in the nursery row about 1 to 2 inches deep and about 6 to 8 inches apart in rows 42 inches apart.

*Thiram solution - 1 level teaspoon of Thiram (75 WP) mixed well in 2 quarts of water.



Margie Luffman
Curator, Canadian Clonal Genebank Program
Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Greenhouse and Processing Crops Research Centre
2585 County Road 20
Harrow, Ontario
N0R 1G0

Phone: 519-738-2251 ext. 474
Fax:      519-738-2929
E-mail:luffmanm@em.agr.ca


>>> mauch1@aol.com 03/27/02 09:21am >>>
I'd be interested in hearing from anyone on their method for growing 
peaches from seed, particularly their method for extracting the seed 
from the pit, and chilling methods.  Any details are welcome.

Thanks,

Chris Mauchline
SE PA, zone 6




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