As a child, who didn't wonder with curiosity how an apple tree grows from these tiny seeds inside an apple? With our instructions, you too can grow your apple tree successfully.

In a nutshell

  • Apple seeds need a winter phase in order to be able to germinate at all
  • a tree grown from apple seeds can develop very diverse characteristics of its genetic heritage during growth
  • despite the imposing trees, the initial cores are very delicate

Which cores are suitable?

In principle, trees can be grown from all cores that you remove from a fully ripe apple. When the entire fruit is ripe, the seeds have also completed their development cycle and have the potential to create a new plant. However, it is worth taking a look at the apple variety used. Varieties that are native to us in particular have a high chance of success, since you can be sure that the trees will cope well with the climate, temperatures and weather. Typical varieties are for example:

  • Alcmene
  • Berlepsch
  • boskoop
  • Elstar
  • gold parmesan
  • Jonagold

Notice: Don't try the so-called club varieties. The fruits often lose their ability to germinate in the course of the breeding process. However, since propagation takes place vegetatively by so-called "grafting", this is not of essential importance.

Step by step to the apple tree

We have put together a detailed guide on how to grow your own apple tree.

The preparation - skilfully stratify

In the wild, an apple falls from the tree, the flesh rots and the pips migrate into the ground. There they survive the first winter with sub-zero temperatures and ground frost. The cold causes the natural growth inhibitors in the apple core to disintegrate and the ability to germinate develops. In order for your core to grow as well, you have to artificially simulate winter.

  • Expose and clean the apple core
  • Moisten kitchen paper
  • Wrap the core in kitchen paper and enclose in a freezer bag
  • Store the core in the refrigerator for two to four weeks

As soon as you see the first signs of germination on your seeds, you can proceed with planting.

Tip: If, instead of a core from a fresh apple, you use cores from the pomace of the must production, stratification is not necessary. The growth inhibitors are also broken down by the fermentation process of the pomace.

The Cultivation

Since the tiny cores are initially very sensitive, it is advisable to grow your future apple tree in a pot at the beginning. Because contrary to the cores themselves, the young plants are very susceptible to low temperatures or drought.

  • Fill the plant pot with a diameter of at least 15 centimeters with loose garden soil
  • Press the soil loosely
  • Place cores on soil
  • Apply a top layer of about one centimeter of garden soil
  • water well and keep moist
  • place bright, warm and without drafts until the young plant has grown

The planting out

As soon as your sapling has reached a size of around 30 centimeters and the temperatures no longer fall below around 10 degrees, the time has come to move to the final location and you can continue to grow your apple tree outdoors.

  • choose a sunny location with enough space for the mature apple tree
  • Dig a plant pit about one and a half times as wide and deep as the plant pot
  • Remove the root ball from the pot, water well and place in the planting pit
  • Fill with garden soil on all sides and press down lightly
  • Water intensively and keep moist for the next 4 weeks

Tip: Use rabbit wire to protect against bites by animals. Even if there are no deer in your garden, rabbits or even cats with claws or teeth can also cause enormous damage.

frequently asked Questions

What exactly does "plug" mean?

Grafting involves “supplementing” a strong and resilient tree sapling as a growth base with a shoot of the desired high-yielding variety. For this purpose, the upper shoot part of the growth base is replaced by the same part of the target variety. Done professionally, the layer of bast grows together and the new tree resumes further development.

Why does my apple tree look completely different than the mother plant?

Apple trees are self-sterile. This means they cannot fertilize themselves. Each apple core therefore contains not only the mother plant but also half the genetic basis of the pollinating apple variety. What happens in individual cases is left to chance.

Can an apple tree also be grown outdoors?

As is usual in nature anyway, you can also cultivate your sapling outdoors. However, the initial chances of survival are poorer here, since the general conditions of weather, heat and water are less constant. In addition, predators and pathogens reach the seedling much more easily.

Category:

Garden plants