Fruitgirl - I think you are right about the climate in that area. I only tried 1 kind of peach from the "Chambersburg" type since they were much more expensive to purchase than the others (even within the same market where I bought them). I don't know exactly what variety it was and the people at the market get more than one variety (depending on when it's ripe) from the Chambersburg area. So, depending on when you go to the market, one week may be one variety from Chambersburg and 2 weeks later they may be selling another variety. They also had other peaches there not from "Chambersburg" and were less expensive. I purchased some the week before I went at another local farmer's market in Ohio. They were nothing outstanding and quite boring actually. So I'm guessing that it's a particular variety that grows extremely well in that climate. How much success I'll have may depend on how different my climate is from the Chambersburg area. Although it's only a few hours away from me, I still think it's worth a try. What's odd too, is that I read online somewhere that there are only 2 peach growers from that area and neither ship their peaches. So either the market where I bought them physically went to that area to get the peaches, or they had them shipped in from a nearby area still claiming to be in the vacinity of Chambersburg. http://www.explorefranklincountypa.com/whats-new/detail.cfm?id=10 http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=5760#SlideFrame_1

Mary, You could call your local nursery and ask them about your seed question or your local extension office here is a link. They should be able to help you, also ask if you could take a soft cutting from your peach tree. Seeds don't always produce the same tree where a soft cutting would give you the same thing you are growing now. Sorry I couldn't be of anymore help. Here is a link that might be useful: Maryland Extension Office

No, it does not take that long for peaches. I've had fruit from four year old trees. They do better than most fruit trees from seed as far as getting decent fruit, too. Are you saying you want to germinate fifteen year old seed? I don't think you'll have any luck if you are. Use this season's crop, and they'll need stratified. No, do not break the kernel open. They can be started right in the ground and overwintered. Just mark where you planted them so you'll know them if and when they break through in spring. You can google directions about anywhere on the web. The two seed-grown peach trees I have (one went over in a storm) are the best tasting peaches (mid-season yellow) I have in my orchard. However, they were genetically different than their parent tree (a white fleshed variety)

Our peaches were from local orchard but they spray. How do you "wash" them? Maybe I should have thrown out the ice water (not too much ice left in it) but the skins were already in it so I just threw the pits in too and dumped it into the pot. I hate to think I wasted my blackberries - do you think this jelly/preserves is really any more "contaminated" than if I had used fresh water? Or store-bought peach jam/jelly? Or eating fresh (sprayed, rinsed) peaches? Next time I think I will just use the pits (clingstone so plenty of flesh left on them), maybe scrape out the red fibers from the center of the peaches b4 making jam and use those with the pits for making jelly. But throw away the skins (and the blanching water). It's so hard to try to keep chemicals out of our bodies without spending a fortune, or growing your own. Though I hear peaches are very hard to get a good crop from w/o spraying. I know our "organic" apples are very ugly and spotty, I have to really scrub them to get black spot off b4 cooking though I have no hesitation about eating one right off the tree.