How To Grow Plum Trees From Seed, 0-3 Months

First video in a new series about growing plum trees - or at least my second attempt at it! The first one failed because I transplanted the germinated plum seeds before the roots were large enough to adapt from the ziploc bag into soil. I've learned my lesson and I've restarted the series in the next video.
Grow Room Rack:
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Grow Room Lights:
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Sorry for the delay and for no updates but we are now ready to get the second series of Growing Plum Trees from Seeds kicked off!
The plum seeds that I will be using in this series were purchased from an organic grocery store and I left the plums in the fridge for more than 3 extra months - a form of stratification, if you will.
After several months in the cold fridge (when they were near rotting) I removed the seeds. Then I used a small hammer to crack the seed shell and remove the actual seeds.
Next, I tested the seeds for viability by soaking them in water for about an hour to ensure the seeds sank (this usually means that they are viable seeds).
I then used the wet paper towel/ziploc bag method to create a mini greenhouse for them and placed them in a warm dark place.
Finally, after 3 weeks, 2 of them sprouted. I waited another week to ensure the roots were healthy enough and there was some green seed leaves emerging before I transplanted them.
It's been 3 months now and both are doing well.
One I topped for a test to see how it grows compared to a non-topped one.
I am excited to see how these plum trees grow over the next several months.
Thanks again for watching!
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#gardening #garden #growfromseed #gardener

[@marciloni12]

Yes, as my grandfather told me decades ago, hard pit fruit trees, need the frost period to properly come out of hard shell, sprout in spring and grow leaves and limbs in summer. Always, trim and prune in late fall October-December. Don't expect fruit until tree is mature=3 years. Cherry, Apricot, Plum, Peach and even roses. All same Genus of Plants.

[@aladrasullivan9018]

Exactly right luv

[@janmariablackwell8138]

Its interesting. Once I'd dried and popped the seeds out, I stuck them in a jar with dam sphagnum moss, put the lid on and left them in my fridge until they sprouted. That took two weeks for two and three to four weeks for the others. Once sprouted, I popped them straight into a cup of soil, kept them damp and left them on my windowsill. They grew surprisingly quickly.

[@DaneArcher2000]

One of the most concise, clear and uncomplicated videos I've seen on growing plums from seed - THANK YOU!

[@kofukuebisu7568]

Thank you! I've always wanted to do this since my grandmother's plum tree's harvesting hasn't been that good lately :/ so I wanna do something for her and give her more plum trees.

[@BiscuitZombies]

Air layering is a good idea as well. Cut a ring of bark off around one of the branches, then pack soil around the cut and wrap it up. Leave it for 1-2 months, it will have rooted. Now put that into a small pot and you have a duplicate of that tree. It will also fruit faster. (< 2 years)

[@Jimmytwogunz]

Use vermicast mixed into the potting soil then get a pair of granny tights put some of the vermicast into it then dip it into a tub of rainwater " not tap water " then feed the leafs with that :D

[@marciloni12]

😊Bless you and your grandmother. My grandparents had fruit trees and a plum was one. The jams, deserts and delicious plums were plenty.❤

[@pamelastuper1734]

Rob a adjustable pliers are the bee's knees, when it comes to opening seeds. You can adjust pliers to avoid cracking the seed. Easy peasy! ❤😊

[@buckaroobonzai2909]

Pro tip. If you sprinkle cinnamon on the paper towel, you can reduce mold.

[@whoaprettypenny4767]

So I just found a plum seedling in a compost pile left out in our very wet and cold aussie winter! This is how I came across your video.

[@Rblock777]

The sinking in water method only works with the shells on to know that the shell is not empty. If you already extracted the seed out from its shell you dont need to check if they sink to the bottom

[@marciloni12]

True, but it's not a clear indication of viability because even if the soft pit sinks, which it will because It's dense, does not mean it will sprout. So, that test is useless for "stone" fruit trees.

[@isabelladifronzo9708]

I've always planted lemons oranges grapefruit apples avocados even pomegranates from seed but straight in the soil. Some grow some don't. I didn't know I had to take them out of the shell. Great video!

[@NMW80]

Cool. Did any of your fruit trees from seed turn out good? I love planting fruit n veg from seed. I had the best strawberry plants years ago from seed and the summer killed them couple years ago 🤦‍♀️ so I have tried to germinate more this year and can’t get any to germinate sadly. I may have to put them in the fridge first for a while. I am growing many fruits from seed, I wish I had done heaps years ago cos they would all be ready by now 😊

[@snowmiaow]

These are stone fruits. The shell is hard.

[@marciloni12]

​@@snowmiaowYES! The hard shell is only expelled by frost in the ground, animals digestion or manually (hammer, 😞I smashed mine too hard).

[@BeverleyW]

Thank you very much. We harvested lots of little plums from a wild tree in a park near us and saved the seeds - really good to know how to do this. Thank you 🌱🌿

[@ilb735]

Fabulous! We all need to be doing more to keep old ( non GM) sticks goung...and planting where others can freely harvest them ( gorilla gardening) 😍👍

[@pumbaandtimon6273]

Thanks, I recently bought the biggest sweetest juiciest plums and and I would love the grow trees from the seeds I hope this works!

[@playerzero2236]

Safest way to open these is with a pipe wrench, and slowly close it until it splits open.

[@samhopes1686]

The leaf issue is leaf curl - it affects lots of stone fruit but peaches in particular. It's often caused by natural rainwater carrying spores from other infected plants locally, so if you water them with harvested rainwater that may be it. It's less of an issue if you water the soil or tray so the water doesn't get on the leaves. Hoping to start growing some damsons this year following your advice! Thanks!

[@frankdavidson9675]

leaf curl can be killed by spraying in the winter that fungus is in the bark spraying the leaves want kill it use diluted copper spray i use 2 big spoons per gal water on my peaches during the winter i sprayed 3 yes ago it did not come back it works

[@frankdavidson9675]

that leaf curl is a fungus i do not think water has a lot to do with it ---i had it real bad on my best peach tree in order to kill it you need to spray with copper spray diluted 2 big spoons per gal water you spray in dec- jan when all the leaves are gone its in the bark i sprayed mine at 2 week intervals just to be sure i got it--- that was 3 yrs ago none since once you see it its too late wait till cold weather i see where some spray the leaves --no good the leaves die because of the fungus in the bark good luck

[@yuanpiano8363]

Plum blossom is gorgeous, must experiment with this

[@SC-ug7wo]

this is so fascinating- thank you for this!

[@MomAsol]

Can’t wait to start planting plums thanks

[@feliciawatts4765]

I had a cherry 🍒 plum seed that I wanted to germinate and perhaps plans. My dad planted peaches, walnuts, and pecans from seeds. I should’ve known better than what I did. I watched along with you on the first video and then this one. I had the bright idea to open the “shell” only to find out that it was the seed. I dried this seed out and everything. 😂 now to find more cherry 🍒 plums. Thank you for the video!! It was really helpful. We germinate seeds along the clear plastic 16 oz. cups with brown paper 🧻 in school. Maybe I’ll try that method as well as yours!!!

[@sus_pro1293]

Cherry plums are the best! I'm trying to propagate some right now off this video. I had no idea the the seed was inside! I thought the pit was the seed😅

[@hedspase]

I tried cracking the pits in a small bench vise and it worked well.

[@jeffkitch5217]

Very interesting! Thanks for the insight

[@SK-lo6dr]

AMAZING vid! You really did help me! Thanks!

[@pamelakestles7166]

Fabulous, thank you 👍 will give it a try 🌴

[@dwightmann6297]

Hello from Honduras Honduras thanks for the video i give a try a got a plum seed to grow

[@ernestoquezada1870]

What an awesome video!

[@jamespalmer9556]

Thanks for the video, i love plums (sour green with salt) and i was gonna plant the dad gum whole plum seed in the ground without cracking the outter case 1st so thanks !

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Thank you James! Good luck and appreciate the recipe (I'll be sure to try that).

[@jasminelovestacos2164]

James Palmer I just bought a green plum tree!! A 4 ft tree I’m excited but can’t wait to get a case of plums to try my luck after I eat them

[@roxammon5858]

Nice one. Subscribed and belled as requested. I have an old plum tree in the garden and would like to propagate some of the old fruit stones when they have dropped. I hope that will work too.

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Peter Salmon Thank you Peter and it should!!

[@kleoemuno4961]

I will try this, thanks mate!

[@charliecharliecharliecharl8554]

I'm geminating some plumb seeds at moment I found that using a small aerated knife to saw down the seam of seed and gently twist to crack it open without damaging the seed

[@Joe_Gunn]

I never thought to use a plastic bag when germinating. I would always leave them out on a plate and add water every day, which didn't always work because if I missed a day the paper towel would dry up killing the seeds. So... thanks for the tip.

[@sebastiantufigno6955]

Easy way to crack the shell instead of using a hammer; I use a small VICE and gently tight the seed from its side till I hear a cracking sound then gently insert a small penknife in the small opening and twist open shell. Greeting from Malta - Europe.

[@markirish7599]

Use a small vice on the seeds it's fantastic and doesn't damage the seeds because you can tighten slowly

[@nightowl2486]

I like to use a small vise, it works like a charm.

[@Jimmytwogunz]

Hi Rob... have you tried planting them in vermicast? You should have great results with better roots and Greener leafs :)

[@chesterwilliams7]

Hi there...I had some luck with cracking the seed as you did and placing the seeds with some water back into the fridge. After 4 days, I removed the seeds and scrapped off the outer brown "skin" from the seed. I then placed them in the paper towel. They germinated within 3 days. Maybe I was just lucky!!

[@kinhoongyam3320]

Same here, they germinate really fast, but perhaps its just luck! Can i ask how long they you leave them in the paper towel (roughly how long where their roots) before you transplanted them into soil?

[@chesterwilliams7]

@@kinhoongyam3320 ...3 days..

[@frankdavidson9675]

the topping works on other plants as well i top my catalpa tree to make them bush out instead of tall it forks every where you cut grows back as two

[@onethingafteranother]

Great video. In regards to what seems like a leaf mutation, could be due to glycophosphate perhaps if its not organic seeds? I'm a forager and find very similar malformed leaves accross different species in areas where they have been treating Japanese knotweed. Not sure, just an idea if you haven't solved the mystery by now!

[@debracasseday4960]

I just put 7 plumb seeds straight in the dirt of a pot, I got 1 tree that came up. I will be putting it out in the ground this spring, it is now March, 12th, 2021

[@user-mn4sz8gn9q]

Nice informative video thanks 🍀😊👍🌞

[@oojimmyflip]

I use a long nose pair of pliers to hold the seed non-spilt side down on a flat stone and tap the hard casing with a hammer and they split open easily with a crack sound to reveal the seed inside.

[@marigeobrien]

I guess I was really lucky. Last year I wrapped six plum pits in paper toweling, put them in a plastic bag, put them in the refrigerator and, about 6 months later, in February, unwrapped them and had two viable plants, with roots (I saw, if I had done it sooner, I might have had at least four as two died after sprouting; the last two germinated but I lost them trying to unwrap them (see below).) I planted them inside, in a sunny window, and they have done well. I just re-potted them for the second time. Now I need to know when I can plant them outside... I'm thinking next spring? I've also started another six pits in my fridge. BTW, I JUST saw a video in which the gardener recommended using toilet paper rather than paper towels, as it still stays damp but will break apart better in case the roots begin to grow through the paper. I did lose one of my seeds last year because of that.

[@lil.miscellaneous]

I would just cut the paper into squares or whatever works with the root growth,and plant them with it.

[@mimib6253]

I would take & mark that one seed that is floating (more in the middle) around teeny bit different than the other 3 on the perimeter, just to see if it was one of the seeds that didn't germinate

[@kinhoongyam3320]

Hi, how long were they left in the wet paper towel bag before you had them transplanted into soil? I have one going with the root about barely 1 inch and I'm wondering if its ready for the soil or should it still sit in the towel for a longer time...

[@angellagordon6930]

Thanks for the info

[@JM-kb5pm]

WOW Amazing Vid You Got a like from me

[@awakenasleepsheep2861]

I was actually searching for cherry-plum. Wouldn't it be the same way? I want a cherry-plum tree from seed!!! I could buy one for $35 but what's the fun in that?! 😂😂😂 I am a new sub as of the beginning of this video. Should I keep them in the fridge till next spring? It is August 14, 2019 as of NOW. Please let me know!!! 🙏❤🙏 Thank you so very much for ALL YOU DO!!! Bless you and yours!!! 🙏❤🇺🇸

[@thomasgoldman7403]

What the hell!! Your awesome man. I watch all your coin videos too!!

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Thanks brother!

[@shahkhan2425]

Hi Rob When will you update us on your lemon trees?

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Shah Khan This upcoming weekend.

[@deaconandrewkingtheinspira762]

Great job 👍🏾

[@ergoproxy2007]

Will try !

[@yolandawhite1135]

Great video and I know what to do.

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Yolanda White Yay!!

[@RCCRAYZ]

I use vise grips on both cherry's and plums. Adjust it to just enough to crack it without damaging the seed inside.

[@kumaridesilva5516]

Can you please help me how could I crack the seed

[@sampeach4899]

Love your videos! Im a new subscriber and have been working my way through all of them Do you have any experience with growing fruits or veggies exclusively indoors? I'd love to have some fresh food despite living in an apartment😊

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Wanderland Peach I’ve had much success with tomatoes and peppers indoors, as well as all herbs, lettuces and even carrots and radishes. Of course almost all citrus does well indoors as well. With ample lighting, trimming, and hand pollinating, there’s a lot of fruits and veggies that anyone can grow indoors. Happy Gardening!

[@NMW80]

You can also grow dwarf avocado trees like wurtz in a pot as long as it is getting good light from the window. Do you have a balcony? You could use hanging pots to grow heaps of things in too. Hang them off the balcony and also have vertical growing walls. They save a lot of space. You can diy vertical growing walls with plastic bottles etc. good luck.

[@velmamcreynolds2850]

Hi this is Velma have you ever tried to use a nutcracker it is easier to remove the seeds from you plums I have tried it and it works

[@ezebecky4951]

Wow WONDERFUL

[@baddriversofcolga]

Great video as usual! And also I just want to mention that you sound like Jason Mantzoukas. lol

[@IMIICIHIAIEIL]

Yes you’re right!!!! Plums like honey in the baklava

[@cmkrowel]

Great videos

[@randomperson9122]

Hello Nice video i did almost the same process last year to germinate my apricot seeds and managed to get 5 saplings......i was wondering which tree is there with reddish leaves in the background?

[@california199_7]

Thanks for sharing time for me to grow my own plums since I live eating them. I’m going to try growing 5 different plum seeds

[@mrjason9382]

Thanks for shareing

[@hodadavarpanah330]

Great videos. Where did you place the pot? outside? inside with sun?

[@johndevenny3454]

thanks Rob

[@Mari-ol9ek]

So after you plant them in the winter in a cut after germination do you put them under a warm light inside the the?

[@shanteiraboyd5174]

Any more updates on how the plum trees are doing I’m going to follow your instructions on how to grow them I’m about to move back to the country so I can start doing this and farming

[@murdermysterymissing8044]

If you take pruning shears to the ends on the natural crack, they pop right open and the seed is not destroyed.

[@mygardenparadise1929]

I plan on growing a plum tree from seed : D

[@digbhai]

Very helpful...

[@ritamoktan4599]

Enjoyed the video. But could you please tell me the best time to germinate the seeds.

[@kellystiner1005]

Hello - do you have a followup on this? As in how successful has it been? Do you have a tree growing - is it producing? Thanks.

[@mrkrharris]

do you freeze the seeds for a couple weeks before splitting them open?

[@khamoshstruggle9087]

Very nice

[@garyc8631]

i have put some plum and apricots seeds in the fridge to start stratification process. lets see how it goes

[@rukhshonakholova2367]

I'm sorry if I wasn't paying attention but do you leave the plants in the sun after you put them in dirt? Thank You!

[@celiaparra8515]

Thank You!!!

[@jvaentertainment2612]

Im a javanese Indonesia Thankyou from motivating me

[@accipitermagna7104]

How would those seeds sprout in the nature since they need to be submerged at first? Does rain enable such conditions?

[@professorprofessor1998]

Hi, so i just cracked open a few shells open and i took the seed out and its a all white seed. Is that viable enough to grow? Thanks!

[@rickasisco]

You can just put the ziplock bag right into the bottom of your fridge, they will germinate fine in the cool fridge. I collected seeds Sept and put 14 in the fridge (damp napkin and ziplock) and in a month they germinated and now, mid Nov they are (all 14) about 5 to 6 inches tall

[@NMW80]

Is that leaf curl? I don’t know about plum trees having it but I think they get leaf curl too. Spray with copper spray in winter before it blooms to stop or slow the spread of leaf curl. That’s if it is leaf curl.

[@CollegeRodent]

There is another guy on youtube who did not do any stratification and yet the plum seeds germinated. I will try to do one seed with no stratification and see whether it works in July as a test run. Then I will start some real seeds next April.

[@scottjones4888]

to help with getting seed from husk use small vice work if ur careful

[@jadepika9717]

Do you have to crack open the shell to plant it or can it grow just planted as is

[@crushthis123]

Wire cutters work on the seeds, just nip the edge and it will split

[@chatteyj]

Can I just leave some plum seeds in a cool dark area for now (its August 2020) and take these steps shown in the video next spring?

[@SOSO4634]

So beauty 🌹

[@edwardojeda3091]

Bro you look like John travolta from that movie called Paris in love . Lmao 🤣 right on man keep up the good work and thanks for the video. No offense intended.

[@GranadillaFilms]

Have your plum trees ever flowered or produced any fruit yet? I believe that most stone fruit trees have to be grafted to produce the best tasting fruit. If you just grow a fruit tree from seed then you'll get a mix between the two parents and it could result in anything from a dud with no fruit to a sour tasting fruit to an amazing fruit! But if you graft a cutting from a tree that you know produces amazing tasty fruit then you will get an exact clone of that tree with the same amazing tasty fruit.

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Granadilla Films They haven’t yet - hopeful for the peaches this year. It is best to graft of course but I wanted to see what we could get from seed. Updates coming soon!

[@raymerrell4472]

I have a very large Plum tree in my yard. That produces very well. I have about 100 plums in my fridge right now. Been there for about 3 weeks. Already ate and gave away a couple hundred of them. So I'm a little burnt out. As well as my toilet. Lol. My question is, will my seeds from my plum tree work better then store bought plums??? Being 100% organic I would think it would work better. I have the opportunity to grow a few dozen starts with at least 100 perfect plums. What do you think

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

Ray Merrell Yes, they should! I can’t wait until I get plums!!! I think you should plant the 5-10 biggest ones and then thin out to the 2-3 best plants after 3-4 months!

[@RUSHIA805]

Ofcorse they will, unless your tree is a hybrid. Trees grown from seeds of a hybrid tree will not bare fruit, that is much more likely to happen from a store bought plum.

[@willeveryday]

Why don't you clone the mature plant? It will be true to form and start to bear fruit much sooner.

[@NMW80]

Will Everyday yeah that’s what I would do for sure. Just take the cuttings and root them or graft onto rootstock plum trees grown from seed.

[@itsvoid6843]

I just took mine out of the seed and put it in a pot wit some dirt and it sprouted in like 2 weeks

[@amygawalko]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻. Thank You

[@valeriesultan1435]

Hello I’m new with the store but plum seeds what type of soil you used like the starter one like jiffy’s soil and then mix the normal one like the type miracle grow in new at planting but specially know in quarantine we are trying different thing

[@valeriesultan1435]

Oh I leave in Florida hot weather jeje

[@loukasstavrou3760]

How many times a week do you water them and how much

[@destinee9903]

Do you fertilize them this early?

[@nicolemyer4220]

I have a bunch of pits that have already been removed from the fruit (to make jam), Should I still put the pits in the fridge for a couple of months before removing the seeds and beginning the germinating process? Or skip the fridge since theres no fruit?

[@SupremacyNZ]

Nice

[@cordelobido176]

How long does it take a plum tree to bear fruits

[@jakobj55]

In my case: I threw 5 seeds in the fridge and everyone of them germinated... After like 1/2 year they are now around 10 cm 1/3 feet tall. When should I put them out?

[@johnlord8337]

10* Lottsa seeds. Lotta trees to come.

[@rx0788]

Hi, I took the seeds out and put them straight into soil and it's already grown roots and I have no idea what I'm to do with it now, but I guess you may not always need to put them in tissue and put them in the fridge etc...

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

rx0788 I’m glad your method worked. There are many ways to grow them, mine is just one. Happy gardening and good luck!

[@rx0788]

Rob Backyard Gardenerr thank you dear but I have no idea what to do with it now, it's my first plum tree I've tried like 20 apples seed and they don't seem to survive due to pests etc

[@mifrahfatima9799]

@@rx0788 hi just wanted to ask did you crack the pit open or not before burying it?

[@maryaliceluevano3498]

What type of potting soil do you use fir them. I've been growing cherries and apples from seed and they damp off where the soil and stem meet after a month or so and die.... :( I've been using black gold natural and organic mix. i pick out the sticks in it but it seems to stay toooooo wet. Your plum looks fabulous !!! So I was wondering what potting media you use for them ...

[@RobBackyardGardenerr]

I use 50/50 potting soul and compost. But I also water from the bottom until I plant outdoors in the 2 cup method. One cup has holes in it and the other I put water in every week and it wicks up into the cup with the holes

[@libra11426]

How long does the root from the seed need to be to plant? I have a nectarine that I've germinated in the fridge. The root is about an inch long.

[@3000masterchief]

John Travolta?? Haha great vid