Growing Apples from Seeds

Most people believe that the seeds of a commercially grown apple do not germinate, as they are not fertile. However, this is not the case, seeds of apples from cultivars are indeed fertile. Many people just insert the seed in the soil after finishing their apple, and the plant never comes up due to two very important reasons.

Firstly, the seed of the apple does not get time for the dry-out period, that is needed for germination, to take place. And secondly, it does not go through the stratification period. Stratification refers to the cooling of the seed before the process of germination begins inside the apple seed. Most people never stratify the seed before planting it in the soil. Hence, the misconception, that seeds of commercially produced apples are sterile.

If you wish to test if the seed is sterile or not, all you have to do is place it on a moist surface, preferably a towel or a tissue and then let it germinate on a window sill (inside the window) for about a week.

To start the process of germination within the seed, first remove the seed from the left over crust of the apple. Wash the seed and let it dry in a cool place. It is very important that the seed dries up completely.

After the seed is dry, place it in a zip-lock bag, or a container with a tight lid. Cover it with a handful of soil, and set it aside for a few weeks. Moisten the soil after every 4 weeks. It is also very important to let in fresh air at regular intervals. If the process has been done correctly, then, after about 3 months, the seed will germinate, and small green leaves will appear from the seed.

The next step is very important, in the process of growing an apple tree from seeds, and has to done with care. Remove the soil very carefully from the bag or container, and place it in a hole that is about 10 mm deep. If there are many seedlings, plant them at different locations. Avoid replanting the apple plant, as most of the cultivars are rather delicate and rarely survive re-potting.

The location at which you plant the germinated apple seed is very critical, because the tree should receive morning sunlight. This helps in evaporating dew, which is a medium for the spread of contagious diseases. The apple tree also needs to be planted in a type of soil that drains quickly.

If you wish to reap really good benefits from the tree, then it it is advisable that you learn the techniques of pruning and balancing the tree. You can also get very good results if you prune the top branches regularly, and allow sunlight to reach the lower branches. The sunlight not only makes the lower branches healthy, but also prevents them and the fruits from infestation.

Your journey with your apple plant does not end with the planting of a germinated seed. You need to care for the plant, protect it, prune it, put in fertilizers, and last but not the least, love it, in order to get the best quality fruit from it.