Prunus armeniaca - Apricot Seeds

Description

Prunus armeniaca, commonly known as the apricot, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is valued for its edible fruit as well as its ornamental qualities, including fragrant, white-to-pink flowers that bloom in early spring before the leaves emerge. The tree typically grows with a dense, spreading canopy. The fruit is a drupe (a stone fruit) that is yellow to orange, often with a red blush, and has a velvety or smooth surface. Inside, the single seed is enclosed in a hard pit.

The seed of Prunus armeniaca, commonly known as the apricot, is a light brown, flat, and oval-shaped kernel. It is protected by a hard, woody shell called a pit or stone. This pit must be carefully cracked open to extract the seed within. The seed itself is often bitter due to the presence of amygdalin. To germinate apricot seeds, a process known as cold stratification is necessary to mimic the natural winter conditions that break the seed’s dormancy. Begin by soaking the extracted seed in warm water overnight. Next, place the seed in a sealed plastic bag with a moist medium like a damp paper towel or perlite and refrigerate it for at least 4-6 weeks. After this period, plant the seed 2,5 to 5 cm deep in a pot with well-draining soil, keep the soil moist, and place it in a sunny spot. Germination can take several weeks.