Question
I want to grow a couple of pear, apple, cherry, peach, nectarine, and apricot. How do I go about propagating those seeds, and how long before they are strong enough to be outside.  I live in South Western Washington.

Answer
Hi Teresa,
Thanx for your question.  This must be the year for people experimenting with growing fruit from seed as I cannot tell you how many of this type of question I have fielded this summer.  First things first though.  Bear in mind that most fruit sold in the grocery store is a result of a hybrid so, any seed you start is not going to result in the same kind of fruit.  More likely than not, the plant and fruit will be inferior to the fruit from which you got the seed.  This is due to the intensive hybridization of fruit trees in the United States and Canada.  Secondly, any fruit trees resulting from your experiments will not bear fruit for 5-7 years (in general).  With that said, plant seeds with one inch of dirt on top of them in pots and leave outside for the winter.  They require temperatures at 40F and below in order to break dormancy.  This is a survival mechanism set up by nature to prevent the seeds from germinating at the wrong time of the year.  After the cold period, when soil and air temperatures get warm, the seeds will germinate.  Keep them watered even in the winter and by summer, you should be able to plant them in the desired spot.  Mulch them for the first couple of years to protect their roots from cold weather.  If you live in the Deep South or California, you will have to find fruit with low chill requirements or they will not bloom and bear fruit.  You can also start the seeds with an artificial chilling period by placing the seeds in damp paper towels and sealing them in plastic baggies.  Place in the fridge for 60-90 days (not the freezer).  Then remove and plant an inch deep in pots of good potting soil.  The seeds will germinate erraticly over several weeks to several months time.  I hope this helps.
tom