GROWING A NECTARINE TREE FROM A PIT

For years my family harvested gorgeous nectarines from several trees outside the old home place. Those trees? All started from the pit of our "Grandma nectarine." You can do it, too!

Start by carefully cracking open a nectarine pit with a hammer. This will reveal a soft almond-like seed. In fact...

Almonds belong to the Prunus family which is the same family as plums (prunes), peaches, cherries, nectarines and apricots. (Collectively known as stone fruit.)

See how similar the nectarine seeds look to whole almonds? It's no surprise that they are related!!!

Place the seed in moist potting mix and refrigerate for several months. This "chills" the seeds, getting them ready to sprout.

Partially fill a container with potting soil. Place sprouted seed on top and cover with more soil. Water the seed and...wait.

You'll see green leaves emerge in a month or so. Let the little tree reach about 12" in the pot before planting in the ground.

With any luck, you'll be harvesting fresh nectarines in a few years! Click to find out more and grow your own.