Written by Benedict Vanheems – October 21, 2024
Growing your own apples is incredibly rewarding. A single apple tree can yield hundreds of crisp, juicy fruits annually. Apples can be stored, frozen, or juiced for year-round enjoyment. While growing an apple tree from seed is a fun experiment, it comes with challenges. Here’s how to do it and why grafted trees might be a better option.
Growing Apple Trees from Seeds
To grow apples from seeds (pips), start with ripe apples. Their seeds are mature and ready for germination. However, seeds require a chilling process called cold stratification to mimic winter and break dormancy.
- Prepare the Seeds:
Clean the seeds and place them on a damp paper towel. Fold the towel, seal it in a bag with slight airflow, and refrigerate for 6–8 weeks. Check occasionally, misting the towel to keep it moist. - Plant the Seeds:
After chilling, sow seeds in pots filled with potting mix. Cover them with 0.5 inches (1 cm) of soil, water lightly, and place the pots in a warm spot (73°F or 23°C). Germination typically takes two weeks. - Transplant the Seedlings:
Once seedlings reach 4 inches (10 cm) tall, transplant them into individual pots. When outdoor temperatures are consistently warm, plant them in the ground.
Challenges with Growing from Seeds
While growing from seeds is exciting, it’s unpredictable:
- Fruit Quality: The apples often differ significantly from the parent tree and may be smaller or less flavorful.
- Tree Size: Seed-grown trees can grow up to 30 feet (10 meters), making them harder to manage than grafted varieties.
- Time to Fruit: It can take up to a decade for seed-grown trees to bear fruit, compared to 2–4 years for grafted saplings.
The Better Option: Grafted Trees
For faster results and consistent fruit quality, consider purchasing a grafted apple tree. These trees combine a cutting (scion) from a desired variety with a rootstock that controls tree size, making them suitable for smaller spaces or even espaliering along walls.
- Choose a Variety:
If planting only one tree, select a self-fertile variety for reliable fruit production. A second tree nearby can improve yields through cross-pollination. - Plant the Tree:
- Plant in autumn or spring, depending on your climate.
- Select a sunny location and dig a hole three times the pot’s width and equal to its depth.
- Loosen soil at the hole’s bottom to encourage root spread.
- Soak the tree’s rootball in water for an hour before planting.
- Support and Mulch:
Insert a stake at a 45° angle to stabilize the tree. Secure it with a rubber tie low on the trunk to allow natural swaying, which promotes strong root growth. Add mulch around the base, avoiding direct contact with the trunk.
Growing an apple tree from seed is a rewarding challenge, but for quicker results and superior apples, investing in a grafted tree is the way to go. With the right care, your tree will soon provide an abundance of delicious, homegrown apples.