Keep These 10 Seeds If You Want To Have Fruit Trees

There’s something timeless about planting a tree from seed. It requires patience and quietly grows into something remarkable. Many store-bought fruits carry that potential. You just have to recognize which seeds are worth keeping and how to help them thrive. Here are 10 seeds you can start with.

Papaya

If you’re in USDA zones 9 to 11, save seeds from ripe papaya and dry them thoroughly. Plant them in loose, well-drained soil with full sunlight. Given steady warmth, the tree may flower and bear fruit in 18 to 24 months from germination.

Avocado

Begin by suspending a cleaned avocado pit over water with toothpicks. Roots often emerge in weeks. Once sprouted, transfer it to the soil and leave the top exposed. Avocados are slow growers and usually need eight to fifteen years before yielding fruit, especially without grafting or greenhouse conditions.

Guava

To improve germination, soak guava seeds for 48 hours before planting. Use warm, nutrient-rich soil and full sun exposure. The trees thrive in USDA zones 9 to 12 and may start fruiting in as little as three years when grown under ideal conditions.

Mango

Mango trees, native to tropical climates, require patience—they often take six to eight years to fruit when started from seed. First, lay the extracted inner seed flat in moist soil. To access the seed, split open the mango husk. Keep the environment warm and consistently bright.

Orange

Fresh orange seeds don’t need stratification; just plant them in a moist potting mix and wait a few weeks. These citrus trees prefer zones 9 to 11 but adapt well indoors. Though slow to mature, they may flower and fruit within five to ten years with steady care.

Apple

Transfer rooted apple seeds to soil only after cold stratifying them for 70 to 90 days in the refrigerator. Start by sealing damp paper towels with seeds inside a plastic bag. Most apple trees take five to ten years to bear fruit and rarely mirror the parent variety.

Peach

Peach trees thrive in USDA zones 5 to 9 and may begin fruiting within three years of planting. Start by chilling clean pits for 8 to 12 weeks in moist paper towels inside a plastic bag. Once sprouted, move them into well-drained soil with steady sunlight.

Lemon

The tree’s fragrant blossoms and glossy leaves offer year-round appeal. Lemon seeds germinate easily in warm, moist soil without stratification. Ideal for USDA zones 9 to 11 or indoor container-growing, lemon trees need full sun and may take five or more years before producing fruit.

Pear

Stratify pear seeds like apple seeds—store them in a cold, moist environment for two to three months to trigger germination. Though slow to start, pear trees often resist disease better than apples and may fruit within seven years. Pear seeds thrive in USDA zones 4 to 8 and prefer deep, slightly sandy soil.

Plum

In USDA zones 4 to 9, plum trees grow quickly and may begin fruiting within three to five years. Chill plum pits in the refrigerator for 10 to 12 weeks to break dormancy. For best results, plant them in loamy, slightly acidic soil with full sun exposure.