How to Grow Apple Trees from Seeds

You can grow apples from seed, but keep in mind that the apple tree may not be the same type of apple that you grow the seeds for. ^{[1] X Research Source} For example, when growing Granny Smith apple seeds (American green apples), you may not get Granny Smith apple trees. There may be several different varieties of apples derived from the Granny Smith apple variety. There are many things you need to keep in mind to increase your chances of success if you want to grow apples from seed.

Table of Contents

Winter simulation

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Collect two different types of seeds. Apples need to be planted in pairs in order to bear fruit – apple trees are not self-pollinating, so they need a different apple variety to cross-pollinate. You can get seeds from an apple you’re eating or buy apple seeds from the store. Remember that when growing apples from seed, the apple tree you plant is not guaranteed to produce fruit or exactly the type of apple you intend to grow. Try to choose or buy apple seeds that will grow well in the climate you are in, or your apple tree may die when planted outdoors. ^{[2] X Research Source}

If you want to grow apples for fruit, it’s best to buy baby apple trees from a nursery instead of growing apples from seed. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
When trying to grow an apple tree from seed, you also need to understand that the grown apple tree will not have the properties of miniaturization (i.e. it will reach a maximum height of about 9 meters). If your yard has enough space for plants to grow, great! You should also keep in mind that plants grown from seed can take 8 to 10 years to bear fruit, while seedlings extracted from the mother plant will bear fruit much faster. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Dry the seeds. When you remove the seeds and remove all the flesh that sticks to the seeds, you should dry the seeds. This is simply to let it dry naturally until there is no moisture left in the outer shell.

Wrap the apple seeds in a damp paper towel. Place tissues and seeds in a zippered plastic bag, lidded jar, or food container, which is important to seal. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

You can also use damp peat moss instead of paper towels if available.

Put the apple seeds in the refrigerator. Apple seeds need a period of exposure to cold called the “post-ripening” period. This is the necessary winter simulation. During this time, the apple seeds will take root and germinate. They need to stay in this condition for 70 to 80 days. Maintain a temperature between 4.4 -10 degrees Celsius, ideally 4.4 to 5 degrees Celsius ^{. [6] X Reliable Source Penn State Extension Go to source}

If possible, you should do this in the winter so the apple seeds will be season-compatible when they come out of the fridge. Planting seeds in early spring after the last frost will have the best results.

Check often to make sure the tissue is still damp. When storing seeds in the refrigerator, it is important to maintain humidity, so you need to check daily. However, you need to remember that the seeds will not germinate when kept in the refrigerator.

Nurturing plants in pots

Prepare pots and soil. Apple seeds need to be planted in a prepared pot. Use a good quality potting mix. Apple seeds will grow well with a medium pH. Fill the pot with soil and dig a hole equal to or twice the size of the germinating seed. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Penn State Extension Go to Source}

Do not add fertilizer as this is not necessary. However, you can add mulch or compost if you want the seedlings to grow faster.

Planting seedlings outdoors

Choose a planting location. There are many factors that you need to consider when deciding where to plant a tree. It is sunlight, earth and space. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Sunlight: Apple trees need full light. That means it will need to receive direct sunlight from the sun for 6 hours or more every day. The location of the tree will depend on the location of your home. East is usually a good choice, but north is also fine. ^{[12] X Research Sources} Consider possible locations before planting trees.
Soil: Apple trees do not like wet soil. This means that the apple soil needs to retain moisture but must be well drained. The soil should be relatively fertile and have a medium pH.
Space: Since it’s grown from seed, your apple tree will grow to its full potential (it can reach 6-9 meters in height). You need to make sure there is enough space for the plant’s root system to grow. Plan to plant at least 9 meters from other trees, especially if you want to plant two apple trees in a row. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Know when conditions are right to move the plant out. When your seedling is large enough that no one can accidentally step on it or mistake it for a weed, move it outside, being careful not to cut the roots. The best time to do this depends on where you live – fall can be a good time if you live in zone 8 or warmer places. If you are outside zone 8, you should plant in the spring, when there is no longer a chance of frost. ^{[14] X Research Source}

Remove all weeds within a diameter of 1.2 m at the intended planting site. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the seedling’s roots. Make sure the hole is about 0.6 m deep. Once you’ve dug the hole, try to loosen the soil around the hole – this will make it easier for the roots to penetrate the soil. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Move the seedlings out. Gently remove the roots so they don’t get tangled or trapped in the hole you just dug. Begin to change the soil around the roots. Once you have covered the roots, pat the soil down to remove any air pockets around the roots. Fill the rest of the hole with loose soil. ^{[16] X Research Source}

You should also not add uncooked manure or compost around the plant. Fertilizers can “burn” the roots of young plants.

Water the plant plenty of water to remove air pockets. After watering the plants, spread a layer of mulch over the soil to retain moisture for the seedlings. Organic hay, straw or shavings can make suitable mulch for apple trees. Mulch should be spread in a circle of 0.9 m radius around the tree. Mulch will help retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing in competition with young plant roots for water and nutrients. ^{[17] X Trusted Source Penn State Extension Go to Source}

Take care of plant

Water the plants. When the plant is still low (about 15-20 cm), every 10-12 days the plant needs to be watered once. However, you can reduce the number of waterings as the plant grows, just keep it moist (but not soggy). Reduce watering when the plant has grown, but in the summer should water every week or 2 weeks. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

At other times of the year, you can let nature do the rest, unless you live in extremely dry areas. Then you need to remember that in the first year, the amount of water for the plant every week about 2.5 -5 cm is ideal. Make sure to water the plant thoroughly, not just sprinkle it on the plant.

Exclude pests. If there are deer in the area, you need to protect the young trees. Deer love to nibble on the young shoots of apple trees, sometimes even damaging the trunk. To protect the plants while they are growing, you can use a trellis that is tall enough to protect the plants and long enough to wrap around the plants. Fix the net to the stake and roll it around. Watch as the tree grows so that the branches don’t get caught in the fence.

In low-pressure areas, using a store-bought or homemade spray can also be effective. ^{[19] X Research Source}
If there are no deer in your area, you still need to keep mice and rabbits out by putting a fence around the tree.
Insect eradication. You may have to fight pests that cause disease in apples. You can buy insecticide sprays at nurseries or garden supply stores to get rid of pests.
Fight with apple maggots. They are one of the most common pests of apple trees. Hang a few red baseball-sized balls from tree branches in June. Cover the balls with an adhesive such as a Tangle Trap purchased from a nursery or store.

Fertilize when the plant is older. Your apple tree needs to be fertilized annually every spring. Fertilize the plant after the last snow has melted (if your area has snow), but before the tree begins to sprout. You should use a nitrogen and oxide fertilizer (NPK) 10-10-10. Fertilize under the tree canopy at a dose of 230 gr for every 5 cm of trunk diameter. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Always test the soil before fertilizing. Based on your soil test results, you may need to use a slow-release organic fertilizer. Too much nitrogen will cause the plant to only grow leaves and limit fruiting.
Do not use both a fertilizer and a weed killer – these combined fertilizers can harm your apple tree.

Tree pruning drill . During the first year, limit pruning so as not to delay the fruiting time of the tree. You should prune dead or diseased branches. Apple trees need to grow well before they bear fruit – that’s one way to regenerate – so let them grow before they bear fruit. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Remove misplaced shoots before they have a chance to grow into branches that you will need to prune later.
You will also need to prune the tree to create the “master branch”. If there are two branches growing vertically, cut off small branches or unsightly branches so that the tree can concentrate nutrients on the host branch.

“Bending” the tree. It may sound strange, but you need to bend the branches so that the tree can produce maximum fruit. Any branch that forms an angle of 35 degrees or less to the trunk will have to bend to the more appropriate angle (35 degrees greater than the trunk). Pull the branch down so it’s almost parallel to the ground and tie it to stakes that are driven into the ground or to the lower branches. Forced like this for about a few weeks.

Trim excess fruit. Too much fruiting is actually not good either – excess fruit can weigh down branches and reduce fruit quality. You should trim the fruit so that each bunch has only one or two fruits, and spaced at least 15-20 cm apart. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Prune mature trees annually. Once the tree has begun to bear fruit and grow, you will need to prune it annually. Do this during the dormant period. Trim off branches that grow upright (usually at the top of the tallest tree). You should also prune dead, diseased or broken branches, branches that grow toward the trunk or are intertwined. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Trim branches that grow too low – in general, apple tree branches need to grow about 45cm or more above the ground.
You should also prune off weak branches, which often grow on the undersides of branches.

Advice

Keep the plant in the pot until it is about 40-60 cm tall.
Perhaps you should also pay attention to the weather in your area and observe the trees. If the leaves are starting to droop and there are no signs of rain coming, you should use a hose to water the plants.
Plant each plant in a pot so they don’t have to compete with each other for light and nutrients.
The soil should never be allowed to dry out; otherwise the tree may die.
Keep the distance between the seedlings; otherwise, they will not grow.
Before eating, you need to check for worms and bruises on the apple.
If you know someone who has an apple tree, ask around as they may have a lot of experience.
Asking open universities about apple tree care manuals, or going to the library to pick up a book can help.

Warning

Apple trees grown from seeds are not guaranteed to be the same as the parent tree – in fact each seed in an apple will grow into a different tree. Breeding programs have to plant thousands of plants to find one or two new commercial varieties.

Things you need

Apple seeds from two different apple varieties
Soil for potted plants
Plant pots
Enough light
Water
Tissue
Large space to plant trees
Coating

Steps