PREPARE THE SEEDS
The first step in your apple growing journey is preparing the seeds. Start by enjoying a delicious apple, and once you’ve savored every bite, collect the seeds. Gently rinse them to remove any residual fruit pulp and let them air dry. Some gardeners recommend removing the outer seed coat to aid germination, but this isn’t always necessary. You’re now ready to move on to the planting phase.
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APPLE SEED PLANTING
Select a suitable planting medium. A mixture of soil and sand is a good choice as it ensures good drainage. Remember to moisten the soil before planting to help stabilize the soil. Next, plant the apple seeds about half an inch deep, spacing them a few inches apart in a container or directly into the soil. Now, water them well, making sure the soil is evenly moist but not waterlogged.
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Next comes the waiting game, and this is where patience is key. Apple seed germination can take several weeks. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide ample sunlight or grow light. Once the seedlings have grown a few inches and several leaves, they are ready to be transplanted.
See also 4 things to know before growing blueberries in pots
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TRANSPLANTING APPLE TREE SEEDLINGS
When your apple plants have reached the right size, it’s time to transplant them into a larger container or a selected outdoor location. We recommend choosing a sunny location with well-drained soil. Before transplanting, acclimate your plants to the outdoor environment by placing them outside for progressively longer periods each day over the course of a week.
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When transplanting, dig a hole deep and wide enough to accommodate the seedling’s root system without bending or crowding the roots. Carefully remove the seedling from its original container and place it in the hole, ensuring the soil level matches that of the original container. Carefully filling the soil with soil and water helps stabilize the soil and eliminate air pockets. You can also mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
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Apple trees need regular pruning to develop a strong, healthy structure, so prune back any dead, diseased, or crossing branches in late winter or early spring .
WAITING FOR THE APPLE TREE
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Now for the big question: when will your apple plants bear fruit? The point is this: growing apple trees from seed is a long journey, because your seed-grown apple trees don’t follow the same genetic blueprint as their parents. This means they can take a long time to mature and produce fruit.
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In fact, it can take several years, often five to ten years or more, before apple plants are ready to bear fruit. This long delay is because the seedlings must first grow into mature trees. Then, they must go through the process of flowering, pollination, and fruit development. Additionally, the apples they produce may not resemble the parent apple, and the fruit may not be as flavorful.