I’ve seen videos online where people say they don’t stratify peach seeds and they sprout in about 14 days.
Is 3 month stratification really needed?
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Generally yes! You might get lucky without it depending on how the fruit was stored, but it does increase your chances of germ8nation. Placing the seed in damp spagnum moss in a sealed bag inside your refrigerator is the best way I have found to quicken germination. Often and 90-120 days they will begin to sprout inside the bag, then plant them
I think it depends on the genetics of that particular seed. If it’s a peach bred from cold climate landraces, they probably need stratification. Warm climate landraces wouldn’t. Modern peach ancestors came from very warm southern China clear up to very cold northern areas. I stratified a feral peach strain from a mountainous, snowy region just this past winter.
Do you crack or remove the shells first?
I think removing the kernel from the shell speeds things up. I use a vise grip pliers to slowly pop the shell in a gradually tightening step manner to remove the kernel without damage.
Dennis
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In the video they remove the kernel from the pit and also remove the brown covering of the kernel after soaking it in water for 4 hours. Then they put it in a moist papertowel until it sprouts 14 days later
I have removed the seed coat from a number of different stone fruit seeds to speed up sprouting. It usually works if the seed is viable, but it is very easy to damage it and have it mold.
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