How to grow apple trees from seeds
Have you ever thought, maybe you can take out the seeds from the apple you just finished eating and plant them in your yard? If you have really moved this idea, congratulations, you can do it! However, planting apple trees from seed does require some effort, planning and patience. Scroll down to step 1 and start learning how to grow your own apple tree from seed.
Simulate winter
In order for the seeds to germinate, they need to experience cold temperatures, just like a real winter. Because of this need, you will have to use your refrigerator to simulate winter.
1
Collect two kinds of seeds. Apple trees must be planted in pairs, because they do not self-pollinate, so different varieties of apple trees are needed for pollination. You can get the seeds from the apples you eat, or you can buy them from the store. Remember, planting apple trees with the seeds you collect does not necessarily guarantee fruit. Try to pick or buy the seeds of apple trees in your climate zone, otherwise your tree will die.
It is suggested that it is better to buy young saplings from the nursery instead of planting them from seeds. To learn how to transplant a small tree, see "How to transplant a small tree".
If you think there is enough space in your yard for such a large tree, that's great! You should also keep in mind that it may take 8 to 10 years from the sowing of the tree seeds to the fruit, and transplanting the seedlings will result in faster fruit.
2
Take out your seeds and let them dry. Once you remove the seeds from the fruit and remove the protective pulp, you should put them out to dry. This means simply drying in the air until the shell is free of moisture.
3
Cover the seeds with a damp paper towel. Put paper towels and seeds in a sealed plastic bag, jar or plastic box with a lid. No matter what container you use, make sure it can be sealed.
If you have sphagnum moss on hand, you can also use moist sphagnum moss instead of paper towels.
4
Put your seeds in the refrigerator. Seeds need to be exposed to low temperature for a period of time. We call this process "post-ripening". This is essentially a winter simulation. During this period, the seeds will begin to take root and germinate. They will need to be left for 8 weeks or more. During seed storage, the temperature should be kept at about 4.4-10ºC, and the optimum temperature should be 4.4-5°C. [5]
If possible, it is best to do this in winter, so that when you take the seeds out of the refrigerator, they will match the real season. Plant the buds after the final frost in early spring for the best results.
5
Check every once in a while to make sure the towels are kept moist. After eight weeks, your seeds should germinate and have begun to grow small roots from the bottom of the seeds. When your seeds have germinated, remove them from the refrigerator.
Encapsulated sprouts
1
Prepare your pots and soil. You need to plant seeds in a small pot. Use a good combination basin. The most suitable soil pH for apple seed growth should be at a neutral level. Fill the soil and make a turf layer in the soil, twice or three times the size of the germinated seeds.
Don't add any fertilizer. This is unnecessary, but if you want to provide extra energy to your seeds, you can add leaf mulch or compost.
2
Sow seeds at the turf layer. Be sure to sow your little buds very gently, because their roots are very fragile. Place the seeds in the soil and then cover the soil, pat down lightly. Water immediately to ensure that the soil settles around the seeds and remains moist.
3
Store the jar at room temperature. When the seeds are growing in the pot, the seeds and soil should be kept at room temperature or slightly higher temperature. For most of the day, the seed should be bathed in sunlight, so it is recommended to put it on the window sill to get sunlight.
4
Pay attention to the growth of seeds. A few weeks after planting, your seeds will begin to grow small leaves, and then slowly grow taller and thicker. Let them stay in the jar until they become strong enough and the frost is over. If you find that your seed has grown outside the pot, move it to a large pot and water it every day.
Plant your seedlings outdoors
1
Choose a site for your tree. There are several factors to consider when choosing a site for your tree, including light, soil, and space.
Light: Apple trees need plenty of sunlight. This means that they need direct sunlight for six hours or more a day. If possible, plant trees on the east side or on a shady slope.
Soil: Apple trees don't like to be saturated with water. In other words, they need the soil to hold water but have good drainage. You need to make sure it has enough space for its roots to grow. Leave at least 4.5 meters between the two trees, especially when planting two apple trees in succession.
2
Know what is best for transplanting. Once your young sapling has grown large enough that no one will step on it or think it is a weed, then it can be transplanted carefully without cutting any roots. The best time of the year depends on your location. If it is in the middle 8 zone and the warm zone, the effect of transplanting in autumn will be very good. If you are not in Central 8, as long as the threat of hard frost has passed, you can transplant in the spring.
3
Remove any weeds within 1.2 meters in diameter centered on the planting site. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root system of the seedling, about 60 cm deep. After digging the hole, try to loosen the surrounding soil as much as possible-this will help the tree's root system to penetrate into the soil.
4
Transplant seedlings. Spread out the roots of the seedlings gently to avoid tangling the roots in the hole. Start to replace the soil around the root system. After covering the roots, tap the soil firmly to avoid any air bubbles that may hang around the roots. Fill the rest with loose soil.
Again, don't add any fertilizer or unaged compost to the soil
5
Water the saplings well to eliminate air bubbles. When watering the tree, mulch and cover it at the same time to help the saplings retain moisture. Using hay, straw or organic wood chips as an apple tree mulch has good results. The cover soil should be within a radius of 1 meter around the tree. Doing so will help retain water and isolate the growth of the grass, preventing the grass from competing with the roots of the saplings for water and nutrients.
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