Download Article
Download Article
You can grow apples from seed, but keep in mind that the type of apple tree you end up with might not be the same as the seed you planted. [1] X Research source For example, if you plant a Granny Smith apple seed, you might not end up with a Granny Smith apple tree. It might be some other type of apple from the Granny Smith lineage. If you want to plant an apple tree from seed, there are several things you will need to do to increase your chances of success.
Steps
-
Collect two different kinds of seeds. Apple trees must be planted in pairs in order to bear fruit—apple trees are not self-pollinating, so they need a different kind of apple tree to pollinate with. You can either extract the seeds from an apple you are eating, or buy apple seeds at the store. Keep in mind that growing an apple tree from the seeds you have collected does not necessarily guarantee that the tree produced from these seeds will bear fruit or be the same kind of apple. Try to pick or buy seeds of apple trees that do well in your climate zone or else your tree may die once planted outside.
- If you want to grow apples for their fruit, it is recommended that you buy a sapling tree from a nursery rather than growing an apple tree from seed. To learn how to transplant a young tree, click here. [2] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source
- When attempting to grow an apple tree from seed, you should also keep in mind that the tree produced will not have any dwarfing characteristics (meaning that it will grow to its full height of about 30 feet/9 meters). If you think you have enough room in your yard for this tree, great! You should also keep in mind that trees planted from seeds could take 8 to 10 years to produce fruit, while a transplanted sapling will produce fruit in a much faster time frame. [3] X Research source
-
Lay your seeds out to dry. Once you have extracted the seeds from the fruit and have gotten rid of any pieces of the fruit clinging to the seeds, you should lay them out to dry. This means simply air drying them until there is no moisture on the outside shell.Advertisement -
Cover your seeds with a damp paper towel. Place the paper towel and seeds into a sealable plastic bag, jar with a lid, or Tupperware box. Whatever your container is, make sure it can be sealed. [4] X Research source
- You can also use moist peat moss rather than paper towels if you have any peat moss just hanging around.
-
Place your seeds in the fridge. Seeds need a period of exposure to cold temperatures called “after-ripening”. This is essentially simulated winter. During this time, the seeds will begin to grow roots and sprout. They will need to be left in there for 70 to 80 days. Keep the temperature the seeds are stored at around 40 to 50ºF (4.4 to 10ºC), with optimal temperature being 40 to 41ºF (4.4 to 5ºC).
- If possible, do this during actual winter so that when you take the seeds out of the fridge, they will be aligned with the actual seasons. Planting your sprouts in the early spring after the last frost will have the best results.
-
Check every so often to make sure the towel stays damp. It is important to keep the towel damp while the seeds are in the fridge, so check them daily. However, keep in mind that the seeds will not sprout while they are in the fridge.
Advertisement
-
Prepare your pot and soil. Your seeds will need to be planted outside in a prepared seedbed or in a pot. Use a good potting mix. Apple seeds grow best in soil with a neutral pH level. Fill the pots with the soil and create a divot in the soil that is one to two times larger than the sprouted seed. [5] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
- Do not add any fertilizer. It is not necessary, though you can add leaf mulch or compost if you want to give you seedling an extra boost.
-
Place the seed in the divots of soil. Put the seeds into the soil divots and then cover them, making sure to gently pat the soil down. Water the seed immediately so that the soil settles around the seed and the soil stays moist. [6] X Research source
-
Keep the pot at room temperature. While growing in the pot, the seed and soil should be kept at, or slightly higher than, room temperature. The seed should have access to sunlight for a good part of the day, so putting it in a windowsill that gets sunlight for some of the day is a good idea.
-
Watch your seedling for growth. Several weeks after planting, your seeds should begin to start throwing up little leaves. From there they will grow taller and stronger. Keep them in pots until they look strong and any risk of frost has passed. If you think your seedling is outgrowing its pot, transplant it to a larger pot and keep watering it daily.
Advertisement
-
Pick a location for your tree(s). There are several factors that should determine the spot you plant your tree. These include sunlight, soil, and space. [7] X Research source
- Sunlight: Apple trees need full sun. This means that they should get six or more hours of direct sunlight every day. Where you plant your tree will depend on your location. An eastern facing slope is usually a good choice, but a north facing slope may also work. [8] X Research source Evaluate your options for possible locations before you plant.
- Soil: Apple trees don’t like soggy feet. That means they need to be planted in soil that will retain moisture but does drain well. The soil should be moderately rich and have a relatively neutral pH level.
- Space: Because you are growing your tree from seed, it will grow to full size (meaning it can reach 20-30 feet/6-9 meters in height). You will need to make sure that it has enough space for its root system to grow. Plan to plant your tree at least 30 feet (9.1 m) from another tree, particularly if you are planting two apple trees in a row. [9] X Research source
-
Know when the conditions are right for transplanting. Once your little sapling has gotten big enough that no one will step on it or think it is a weed, carefully transplant it without cutting off any roots. The best time of year to plant depends on your location--in Zone 8 and warmer, fall planting can work well. If you live anywhere other than a Zone 8, plant in spring. once the threat of hard frost has passed. [10] X Trustworthy Source Penn State Extension Educational organization dedicated to delivering science-based information to people, businesses, and communities Go to source
-
Remove any weeds in a four-foot diameter of the planting site. Dig a hole that is twice the diameter or your sapling’s root system. Make sure that the hole is roughly two feet (.6 meters) deep. Once you have made the hole, try to loosen the soil of the walls of the hole--this will help your tree’s roots to penetrate the soil.
-
Transplant your sapling. Gently spread out your tree’s roots so they are not tangled or get bunched up in the hole you have dug. Start to replace soil all around the roots. Once you have covered the roots, pat the soil down firmly to get rid of any air pockets that might be hanging out around the roots. Fill the rest of the hole with loose soil. [11] X Research source
- Again do not add any fertilizer or un-aged compost to the soil around your tree. The fertilizer could actually ‘burn’ your young tree’s roots.
-
Water the tree in well to eliminate air pockets. After you have watered your tree, spread mulch to help you sapling retain moisture. Hay, straw, or organic hardwood chips work well as apple tree mulch. The mulch should be spread in a three foot circle around the tree. Doing this will help retain moisture and keep grass from growing and competing with your young tree's roots for water and nutrients.
Advertisement
-
Water your tree. While the tree is still short (roughly 6-8 in/15-20 cm tall) the tree should be watered every 10 to 12 days. As the tree grows, however, you can cut back on the watering, so long as the soil continues to stay moist (but not soggy). As they grow, you will need to water them less frequently. However, in the summer, water your tree every one to two weeks. [12] X Research source
- During other times of the year, you can let nature do the rest, unless you live in an extremely dry area. If this is the case, keep in mind that the equivalent of an inch or two (2.5-5 cm) of water a week is ideal for the first year. Make sure you give it a good soaking, not just a sprinkle.
-
Ward off pests. If you live in an area with deer, you'll need to protect your young tree. Deer absolutely love to browse the buds on apple trees, in some cases they'll even damage the trunk itself. To protect your trees as they grow, cut a length of chicken wire that is tall enough to cover your tree, and long enough to form a loop around the tree. Secure the wire to a post and close the loop. Watch the tree as it grows so that limbs do not become entangled in the wire.
- In low-pressure areas, spraying the tree with a purchased or home-brew spray may also be effective. [13] X Research source
- If deer are not a problem in your area, keep away rabbits and mice by placing short wire mesh around the base of the tree.
- Spray away insects. You might find yourself at battle with insects that are causing your fruit to become diseased. You can buy a spray at your local nursery or garden supply store to ward them off.
- Fight the apple maggot. These are one of the most common plagues to the apple tree. Hang a baseball-sized red ball or two in your trees branches in June. Coat the balls with sticky goo like Tangle Trap, which can be purchased at garden supply stores.
-
Fertilize your tree when it has gotten older. Your apple trees should be fertilized each spring. Fertilize the tree after the last snow has melted away (if you get snow) but before the tree begins to produce buds. You should use a fertilizer with a nitrogen and oxide content (NPK) of 10-10-10. You should lay the fertilizer down under the canopy of the tree and should put down half a pound (.23 kg) of it for every inch (2.5 cm) of the tree's trunk diameter.
- Always perform a soil test before adding fertilizer. You may need to use a slow-release organic fertilizer based on your soil test results. Too much nitrogen will cause excess vegetative growth and limit fruit production.
- Do not use a weed-and-feed fertilizer--these sort of combination fertilizers can hurt apple trees.
-
Hold off on pruning a young tree. Prune as little as possible the first few years, so you don't delay fruit bearing. You should prune off any branches that are dead or diseased. An apple tree wants to build a lot of growth before it decides to create fruit--its way of reproducing--so let it grow till it starts to bear.
- Rid your young tree of misplaced buds before they have the chance to grow into branches that you’ll just have to prune later.
- You will also need to prune the tree to establish a 'central leader'. If there are two limbs growing vertically, prune off the smaller or less-desired one so the tree can direct all of its energy towards the central leader.
-
Train your tree. This may sound odd, but your tree’s branches will need to be shaped to maximize the fruit the tree produces. Any branch that has an angle of 35 degrees or less from the trunk will need to be trained into a better angle (any angle larger than 35 degrees from the trunk). Bend a stem down so that it is almost horizontal and tie it to stakes in the ground or lower tree branches with string. Leave it tied down for a few weeks.
-
Thin excessive fruit. Producing too much fruit can actually be a bad thing for your tree—the excess fruit can weigh the tree’s branches down and reduce the quality of the apples produced. You should thin out the fruit so that there are only one or two apples per cluster, and so that they are roughly six to eight inches (15-20 cm) apart. [14] X Research source
-
Prune a mature tree annually. Once your tree has produced fruit and filled in, you will need to provide it with annual pruning. Do this when the tree is dormant. Cut away vigorously growing stems that grow upright (these are normally found in the higher parts of the tree). You should prune off dead, diseased, or broken branches, as well as limbs that are growing in toward the tree or that are crossing each other.
- Cut away any very low growing limbs--in general, your tree’s limb should start growing roughly 18 inches (45 cm) or higher from the ground.
- You should also remove weak twigs, which generally grow on the undersides of branches.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionI have some apple trees growing in a field that used to be an orchard. Is it possible to pot these trees and grow them?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.Potting established trees is not recommended, as this would shock the roots. You could take cuttings from these trees and graft them to an appropriate root stock to establish new trees.
-
QuestionDo you plant two different apple seeds in the same pot?Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.No. The two varieties grown should be planted at a spacing equal to their expected mature height. For standard apple trees, this is 30 feet.
-
QuestionHow long do apple trees live?Community AnswerApple trees can live more than 50 years.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
Tips
- Keep it in a pot until it is about 1.3–2 feet (0.4–0.6 m). tall (40-60 cm).Thanks
- Keep space between the saplings or they won't grow.Thanks
- Never let the tree dry up, or it may die.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Apple trees love water so leave it in a pot with damp soil. When you keep your tree indoors, place it in darker areas because pests are drawn to the sun.
- Instead of paper towel, use a damp Chux cloth to help the seeds germinate faster.
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Apples grown from seed will not be anything like their parents; in fact, each seed in an apple will make a different tree. University breeding programs plant thousands of trees to find one or two new commercial varieties.Thanks
Advertisement
Things You'll Need
- Apple seeds from two different kinds of apples
- Potting soil
- A pot
- Sufficient light
- Water
- Paper towels
- A large area to plant your trees in
- Mulch
References
- ↑ https://www.starkbros.com/growing-guide/article/science-of-grafting
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/fruit/apples/grow-your-own
- ↑ http://www.bhg.com/advice/gardening/fruit/how-do-i-plant-apple-seeds-saved-from-grocery-store-apples/
- ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2014/jan/23/grow-new-fruit-trees-seed
- ↑ http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/fact-sheets/home-orchard-production/growing-new-fruit-tree-plants-from-seed
- ↑ http://www.bhg.com/advice/gardening/fruit/how-do-i-plant-apple-seeds-saved-from-grocery-store-apples/
- ↑ http://www.almanac.com/plant/apples
- ↑ https://garden.org/learn/articles/view/1574/Fruit-Tree-Site-Selection/
- ↑ http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/sites/default/files/documents/tree_fruit.tf_specialists.pdf
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To grow apple trees from seed, select seeds from two different kinds of apples. Apple trees need to grow in mismatched pairs to make fruit. Remove the seeds from the apples and lay them out in a dry spot until they feel completely dry to the touch. Cover the seeds with a damp paper towel and put them in a sealed container, such as a zip-top bag or a jar with a lid. Store the container in your fridge for 70-80 days at a temperature of 40 to 50ºF (4.4 to 10ºC). Open the container occasionally to make sure the paper towel is still moist. Fill a pot with soil and create a small hole that’s just deep for the seed. Place the seed in the hole and cover it with soil, then gently pat down the surface soil and water it right away. Put the pot in a sunny window. After a few weeks, you should see the seedling emerging. If you live in a warm climate, aim to transfer the young trees outside in fall. Otherwise, plant them in spring, after the last frost. Choose a spot with well-drained soil where the apple trees will get full sunlight. While the seedlings are still under 8 inches (20 cm) tall, water them every 10-12 days. After that, only water them if you notice the soil drying out. Put a little chicken wire around the trees to protect them from deer and other pests. Fertilize your trees every spring with a 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer. For more from our reviewer on growing an apple tree from a seed, including how to plant your seedling outside, scroll down!
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,164,688 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "My apple seeds took 5 months in the fridge before sprouting. I am potting them up now and I hope for success. I am so glad you have the information I needed. I am in zone 7 (Delaware) and by following your instructions this is the first time I have ever gotten apple seeds to sprout!" ..." more
Advertisement
88%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"My apple seeds took 5 months in the fridge before sprouting. I am potting them up now and I hope for success. I am so glad you have the information I needed. I am in zone 7 (Delaware) and by following your instructions this is the first time I have ever gotten apple seeds to sprout!"
..."
more
"Our grand-daughter wondered if an apple tree could grow from a store bought apple. With no knowledge, we took 10 seeds from apples and planted. 8 sprouted, 4 survived. All this with no knowledge or process. Your article confirmed how to do it even better."
..."
more
"A friend gave me a few apples from a 75+ year old tree that lightning took down. He asked how to grow from a seed, so I looked this up. Great info and pics. I will be sharing this info with my friend. I hope my seeds sprout and give fruit. Thank you."
..."
more
"This article has helped me a lot in terms of acquiring more and useful information about how to grow apple trees from seeds. I've been dreaming of growing apples in my farm, but with no information of where to get seeds from. Now I am relieved."
..."
more
"Awesome, detailed steps on how to grow apples from seeds. I have apple seeds from a 100 year old orchard (I ate the fantastic apples) and I am super hopeful that your methods work. All of the details give me confidence! Fingers crossed!"
..."
more
