Growing an apple tree from a tiny seed is a fun experiment, but it’s definitely not the standard way pros grow orchards. The main reason? Without grafting, you’ll never harvest an apple identical to the one the seed came from. But if you’re in it for the DIY thrill and have plenty of patience, it’s a rewarding project to try at home!
Why Apple Seeds Don’t Grow “True to Type”
We’ve all been there: you bite into a delicious, crisp apple and think, “I need a tree of these in my backyard!” Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple with apples. Unlike some plants, apples aren’t “true to seed.” This means the offspring won’t be a clone of the parent. If you plant a seed from a Honeycrisp, you won’t harvest Honeycrisp apples. Instead, you’ll likely get a “wild” version of a tree that produces small, sour, or bitter fruit.
Breaking Dormancy: Dealing with Natural Germination Inhibitors
Apple seeds come with built-in “sleep timers” called germination inhibitors. These prevent the seed from sprouting in the middle of a freezing winter. To get them to grow, you have to trick them into thinking winter has passed through a process called stratification. This involves giving the seeds a cold spell in the fridge or even the freezer.
How to Stratify Your Seeds
It’s easy! Just wrap your seeds in damp paper towels, seal them in a bag, and pop them in the fridge for about two weeks. Once they start to sprout, you can gently tuck the seedlings into a pot with loose, well-draining soil and wait for those first green leaves to pop up.
The Secret to Tasty Fruit: Grafting
After a few years, you’ll hopefully have a cute little sapling. But remember, those tasty apples you’re dreaming of won’t show up on their own. To get high-quality fruit, you’ll eventually need to graft your tree. This involves joining your young plant with a specific rootstock. Honestly, grafting a scion from a known variety is usually a much more reliable bet for backyard gardeners than starting from a seed, but hey—where’s the adventure in that?