A donut peach is easy to recognize -- it looks like it almost has a hole in the middle like a doughnut. This a a natural mutation from the Chinese flat peaches. However, this mutation originally discovered in China is now a desirable trait for peaches and nectarines. The pit or stone inside the peach is smaller than the normal peach seed, more like the size of a pistachio nut. Since the peach does not grow true from seed, you might not get the exact same type of peach from the seedling.
Instructions
1. Open the outer woody covering of the peach seed. Pry the seed open using a strong tool like a screwdriver or sturdy butter knife. Don't bruise or harm the kernel inside.
2. Place a handful of damp peat moss in a plastic sandwich bag. Stuff the peach kernels into the middle of the peat moss and close the bag. Label the outside of the bag with the date and contents.
3. Store the bag in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator for 10 weeks. You want to break the inherent dormancy of the seed with this period of cold temperatures, about 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit above freezing.
4. Plant the seed in a potting mix of 2 parts of damp peat moss and 1 part of perlite. Keep the soil moist by wrapping the plant pot in a plastic bag until you see a sprout emerge.
5. Transplant the sprouted seedling when it reaches 3 or 4 inches in height. Plant it in a gallon-sized plant pot filled with equal parts of peat moss, perlite, sand and well-rotted compost.
Tags: peat moss, damp peat, damp peat moss, peach seed