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Have you ever kept a compost pile? Then you must have seen some fruits or vegetables grow out of it at some point. You must have wondered how they popped up there and you did not plant them.
It is the nature of seeds to grow. Many of the fruits you buy at the store have viable seeds. They are just waiting for the ideal conditions to sprout. Like your garden, the compost pile could provide the ideal conditions for growth.
Can You Grow Fruit From Store-Bought Fruit?
You could make a fruit garden from the fruits you buy at the store. However, it is important for you to know that not all the grocery store produce is created equal. As such, not all the seeds will bear fruits, but most of them will.
You must use non-hybridized seed varieties. Hybridized seeds are produced in such a manner that only their first-generation will bear fruit. So if you save the seeds from such a generation, say from a hybridized tomato you purchase at the grocery store and plant them, they will not give you good produce.
To avoid hybrids at the grocery store, simply buy the fruits that are labeled heirloom. Heirloom is definitely not a hybrid. An heirloom plant refers to one that has been in cultivation for at least one century. It may also refer to the much more recent non-hybrid varieties that are developed from an heirloom stock.
Heirloom, as a term, applies to fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You could get heirloom fruits at your grocery store. Though, most of the common commercial product is developed from recent breeds. Recent breeds work well on an industrial scale but will not be perfect for your home garden.
In most cases, modern varieties are bred for conformity and the ability to withstand long transportation and storage time. Such priorities are at the expense of your desired flavor for the perfect fruit to grow in your garden.
Your store-bought fruits do not have to be labeled heirloom. Some seeds and fruits may not be labeled heirloom while in fact, they are not hybrids. You just need to be sure your store-bought fruits are not hybrids. They will grow robustly.
What Fruit Can You Grow From the Store?
Would you wish to make a fruit garden from the fruits you buy at the store? You can easily make a garden of these 12 fruits from your store-bought fruits.
1. Tomato
Like in most gardens, the spectacular tomato fruit will have a special place in your garden. If one of your $5 tomatoes goes bad, don’t worry. The fermented seeds are viable for successful germination.
Simply plant the seeds into a small pot, keep it well watered on a windowsill and wait for the new plants to emerge. Once the plant is a few inches tall, you can transplant it into a larger pot or to your outside garden when frost is no longer a threat.
2. Pineapples
Different from other fruits, you will grow your pineapples from your pineapples and not from seeds. Take the top of your store-bought pineapple, dry it out and plant it. It will take a couple of years for it to grow, but the wait is worth it.
3. Strawberries
Carefully cut the outer skin of your strawberry. It contains the seeds. You could also extract the seeds using tweezers.
Plant them under the soil, where they can access sunlight and water them regularly till they sprout. Once the sprouts are out, transplant them into a pot or to your outside garden during spring.
4. Cherries
For best results, put your cherry pits under a stratification process. Plant the seeds in a well-draining neutral soil outdoors when it is fall. Ensure they get plenty of sunlight. You could also start with planting the cherry seeds indoors and plant them outside during spring.
5. Peaches
Plant more than one peach seed in each pot in case any of them does not survive the first year. With enough moisture and a lot of sunlight, your trees will grow to produce fruit, within 3 years.
6. Pears
Plant your pears seeds in well-drained soil and give them access to sunlight for a minimum of 6 hours each day. Consider watering the plants in the morning or in the evening.
7. Apples
The sprouts from your apple seeds will take a long while to emerge. Once they do, plant them in the early spring after the last frost. Water the short apple tree every 10 to 12 days and ensure they have enough access to sunlight.
8. Tangerines
To grow the evergreen plants, use the seeds from your fresh fruits. They are more viable. Place the tree in a well-lit spot but not in direct sunlight. Use well-draining soil, watering it enough, and ensure it is not too soggy.
9. Lemons
Easily grow lemons from the fruit seeds. Put 5-10 seeds in the soil at one time in case some of them do not sprout. Choose the seeds that appear plump from a fresh lemon.
Keep the soil damp and give the seedlings 10-14 hours of sunlight each day. Once you see the roots showing through the drainage holes of your pot, it is time to replant them outside or in a bigger pot.
10. Plums
To grow plum, you may need to use a nutcracker to get the seed. Plant the sprouts and give the plum trees at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. The soil should be moist but not soggy.
11. Avocado
Prepare a seedling from your avocado seed and plant it into the soil. Ensure half the seed is exposed to the air. Your avocado trees will do best with moderate humidity. Water them 2-3 times a week.
12. Hazelnuts
You can grow your own hazelnuts from the seeds. Just dry the seeds well and plant them in rich soil. If your area is warm all year-round, plant them outside. Otherwise, begin by planting them indoors and transplant them outdoors during the warm weather.
