Q&A Master Gardeners

What is the process and ideal time of year to starting apple, pear, and peach trees from seed? What if you want to plant apple, pear, and peaches starting as small trees?

Many people mistakenly believe that fruit trees grow true to name from seeds. In reality, if you collect seed from a fruit grown on a plant, the seeds will produce plants that will be a hybrid of two plants. The new plant will be the same kind of plant, but its fruit and vegetative portions may not look the same as the parent because the plant is “heterozygous.” Therefore, all fruit trees must be vegetatively propagated by either

from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Livingston County

grafting or budding methods. Grafting and budding require a compatible rootstock or stock plant onto which you attach your desired variety of fruit plant. An inexpensive way to obtain a seedling rootstock is tocollectseedsfromthetypeofplant you are propagating. The seeds of all common tree fruits (apple, pear, peach, and cherry) require a chilling period before they will germinate and form new plants. Grafting and budding are relatively easy for apple trees, though for us that are more interested in having a fruit tree to plant purchasing a bar root tree is a preferredmethod.

Time of planting: We have routinely advised growers to plant bare rooted trees mid- to late March, April, or May. Several research studies have demonstrated the advantages of planting as soon in the spring as the soil conditions will allow. Trees planted in April have a decided advantage over those planted even one month later. As temperaturesincreaseinlatespring, trees planted late will break bud sooner and struggle initially without a regenerated new root system developed. Avoid planting trees in frozenorwater-saturatedsoils.