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Growing an apple tree from a seed is quite possible. To do this, suitable varieties are selected, the grains are stratified and then germinated in humid conditions. Sowing can be planned for both spring and autumn. At the same time, it will be necessary to grow the seedling at home within 1-2 years. After this, it is transplanted into open ground and cared for as an ordinary seedling.
Is it possible to grow an apple tree from apple seeds?
It is possible to grow a full-fledged tree from a seed. The technology is exactly the same as when obtaining seedlings. The grains are planted in communal containers and grown in warm, humid conditions. Then they are transplanted into pots and cared for for 1-2 years, after which they are transferred to open ground.
But the procedure for growing from seeds has several features:
- The growth rate is low, so it will not be possible to quickly grow a seedling - it is easier to buy ready-made planting material, for example, in a nursery.
- The resulting plants may not inherit some characteristics of the parent crops, including in terms of yield and taste of fruits.
- It is better to grow seedlings within two years at home. To do this, you will have to constantly maintain optimal temperature and humidity levels in the soil and air.
How quickly does an apple tree grow from a seed?
Normally, the seeds hatch within a few days. Usually 7-10 days pass after planting. Sometimes it is more difficult to grow them - individual seeds sprout after several weeks or even months. To speed things up, use Epin or other growth stimulants.
As for further development, the seedling will begin to bloom only 5-7 years after planting. However, its fruiting period is noticeably longer than that of a seedling, and can last up to 40-50 years.
Will the apple tree bear fruit?
An apple tree that has been grown from a seed may well bear fruit. It will produce a harvest, and the first apples may appear 7-10 years after sowing. The only exception is hybrid varieties. They are not prolific, so it is recommended to choose only varieties for sowing.
A varietal apple tree grown from a seed will bear fruit
Is it necessary to graft an apple tree grown from a seed?
If you manage to grow an apple tree from a seed, it is not necessary to graft it, but it is advisable. The plant will produce a harvest without grafting. But it is not completely known what the apples will be like.
If you use seedlings as a rootstock, you can graft almost any real variety onto it. This is done on a plant two years old or more.Grafting begins in May, when the threat of return frosts is minimized.
Growing apple tree seedlings from seeds at home
It is possible to grow an apple tree from a seed, but for this you need to provide suitable conditions (as for seedlings). It is equally important to determine the timing of sowing. The basic rules are described below.
When to plant apple seeds at home
There are two acceptable sowing dates - you can plant an apple tree seed at home in spring or autumn. Moreover, there are no fundamental differences between these options, since both terms are suitable for all regions.
Autumn sowing in the ground is planned a few days before the first frost or immediately after it. This will allow the apple seeds to undergo the stratification procedure. In spring, sowing is planned for the end of March so that the seedlings receive maximum sunlight.
If the deadline is missed, it is allowed to plant apple seeds in the summer - when growing at home, there are no strict dates. Moreover, the seedlings are kept in a pot at home for at least a year, sometimes even two. After this, they are transferred to open ground. It is advisable to plant in the fall a few weeks before the first frost.
Seed preparation
To grow an apple tree from seeds at home, it is important to choose the right seeds. In appearance, they must meet several criteria:
- dense;
- without damage;
- with a uniform, rich brown color.
The seeds are pulled out of the apple trees by hand, cutting the pulp with a knife not vertically, but horizontally, moving the blade slightly from the center. For selection, obviously more seeds are taken, for example, 10 pieces. Thanks to this, seedlings will definitely be able to grow - those that do not sprout will simply decompose in the soil.
Seeds can be collected by hand
After collection, the seed must be washed. The seeds have a layer of substances that inhibit growth, which should be removed in warm water (35-37 degrees). The liquid is poured into a glass. Place the seeds there and mix thoroughly with a stick for 5 minutes, creating a funnel. Then the water must be drained and the same procedure repeated three more times.
You can grow a healthy apple tree if you soak the seeds in warm water (35 degrees). They are kept for 3-4 days. Moreover, every day the water is changed to new one. The room should be sufficiently warm (+25 °C). During germination, apple tree seeds will produce their first sprouts, and those that have not sprouted can already be discarded at this stage.
This could be "Epin", "Zircon" or other means. Thanks to the accelerator, you will be able to grow seedlings faster.
Stratification of apple seeds at home
Stratification is an optional procedure, since growing an apple tree from a seed at home can be done without it. But if possible, it is better to undergo stratification, since this is an imitation of natural wintering conditions, during which the planting material is hardened. If sowing is planned for spring, stratification is very desirable.
The procedure is as follows:
- Mix sphagnum moss with sand, peat and sawdust in equal mass quantities.
- Grind two tablets of activated carbon and add the powder to the mixture.
- To grow an apple tree, take the seeds and mix them with the resulting mixture (it should be three times larger in volume).
- Place in an oblong container.
- Pour warm water to the top (30 degrees).
- Leave on the table and keep for several days at room temperature.
- Then they place it in the refrigerator, pantry or other room with a temperature of 2-6 degrees Celsius (no more).
Soil preparation
The next stage of propagating an apple tree by seeds is preparing the soil. To grow seedlings, you can purchase universal seedling soil. At the same time, you can make the mixture yourself. To do this, take garden soil, humus (or compost) with peat and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1:1.
The soil should be fertile and loose, with a pH in the range of 5.5-7.5. It is first disinfected by watering it with a solution of potassium permanganate. You can also keep it in the oven for 15 minutes at 100 degrees or in the freezer (put it for several days).
The soil for growing seeds must be fertile and loose
Sowing scheme
Planting an apple tree with a seed is carried out according to a certain scheme. For growing, take a large box (it should be wide) or a container with enough holes for drainage. A layer of small stones, expanded clay, and pebbles 2-3 cm high is placed at the bottom. Then fertile soil is laid and watered thoroughly.
To successfully grow an apple tree, seeds should be planted as follows:
- Using a wooden stick, make furrows 1-2 cm deep at intervals of 20 cm.
- Plant the prepared seeds at a distance of 3 cm from each other.
- Sprinkle with soil without compacting.
- Moisten with a spray bottle.
The timing of emergence depends on temperature, lighting and humidity. The boxes should be placed in a warm and bright place and covered with film with holes or transparent glass. Periodically, the shelter is removed for ventilation. At the same time, the temperature is constantly maintained at 25 degrees.
Landing according to another scheme is also possible. After stratification, the grains are placed in water. After a week, some of them will take root.These seeds are transferred to peat pots. Then they are transplanted into larger containers.
Caring for apple seedlings
Germinating an apple seed at home is not that difficult. To do this, you must follow basic care rules, maintain temperature and humidity. Even if the soil is fertile, do not forget about fertilizing.
Thinning
As soon as the seedlings produce four true leaves, the plantings should be thinned out. To grow fruitful plants, you first need to get rid of wild plants. They can be identified by the following characteristics:
- the leaves are smaller, have serrated edges, and the color is brighter;
- the internodes are longer and the trunk is not very thick;
- the spines are thin, straight, located on all shoots.
Watering and fertilizing
Water the seedlings regularly so that the surface layer of soil remains constantly moist. Moreover, you also don’t need to pour too much water - otherwise you won’t be able to grow healthy seedlings.
You will also need to fertilize several times:
- In May, a weak infusion of chicken manure is given (1:20).
- In August, potassium sulfate is added (30 g per 10 l).
- In early October, water with superphosphate (40 g per 10 l).
Transplanting a seedling
A one-year-old or two-year-old seedling is transplanted into open ground in the fall, a few weeks before the first frost. Specific dates depend on the region:
- middle zone - from October 1 to October 20;
- southern regions - late October - early November;
- Ural, Siberia – the last ten days of September – the first days of October.
Apple tree planting is planned for mid-autumn
There is also an additional transplant period - the second half of April. Spring dates are chosen for regions with cold winters. Thanks to this, for example, in Siberia, it becomes easier to grow an apple tree from a seed.
Conclusion
Growing an apple tree from a seed is not difficult, but it takes a long time. The plant will probably not retain the characteristics of its parent trees. This problem can be solved by using the seedling as a rootstock. A scion of a different variety with acceptable yields and the required taste is grown on it.
