plum tree from seed

[yummersetter]

I often wonder that no pips, stones or nuts ever germinate in the soil here despite there being thousands on the ground every year. Even the leftovers from juicing and preserving are returned to the orchard. I guess the mature trees emit an anti-germination substance to keep the kids from inheriting the earth, but sometimes I use fruit debris to mulch the vegetable beds where hasn't been an apple tree for decades, and nothing sprouts. I've even tried to germinate apricot stones from Tajikistan in potting compost with no success ( well, the pots are still somewhere in the back of the garden so maybe one year they'll surprise me). What variety are your plumstones, Darcyvuqua? There's a great book called 'The Pip Book' by Keith Mossman if you need inspiration.