How to grow an apple tree from seed

Written by Daily Fix - Published 03-Sep-2023, last updated 07-Dec-2023

Have you ever taken a bite of a crisp, juicy apple and wondered if you could grow your own appke tree from its seeds?

Imagine harvesting and eating apples from your very own apple tree - one you grew yourself from apple pips. In this article we explore how to grow an apple tree from pips.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out with a green thumb, get ready to embark on an exciting journey as we delve into the art of cultivating apple trees from seed.

What you'll need to grow apple trees from seed

You'll need a few things before you try to grow an apple tree from seed. To germinate apple seeds grab the following items:

• Apple seeds!!
• Moist paper towel
• Plastic bag or container with lid
• Potting mix
• Pot with drainage holes

A step by step guide to germinating apple pips

Follow these instructions to start the apple seed germination process:

• Rinse the apple seeds to remove any fruit residue.
• Place the seeds on a moist paper towel and fold it in half.
• Place the paper towel in a plastic bag or container with a lid.
• Refrigerate the seeds for 6-8 weeks. This process, called stratification, helps to break down the seed coat and promote germination.
• After 6-8 weeks, check the seeds for signs of sprouting. If they have sprouted, you can plant them in pots.
• Fill a pot with potting mix and water it well.
• Plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep in the potting mix.
• Water the seeds and place the pot in a warm, sunny location.
• Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy.

The seeds should germinate within 2-4 weeks.

What to do once the apple seedlings start growing

Once the seedlings have emerged, thin them out so that there is only one seedling per pot.

Continue to water and fertilize the seedlings as needed.

Once the seedlings are large enough, you can pot them on into larger pots, or transplant them into the ground.

Some tips on growing apple trees from seed

Here are a few tips that should help you when trying to grow apple trees from seed:

• Use seeds from a variety of apples for the best chance of success. And, if you have the space, using seeds gathered from a variety of apples means your mini orchard can be made up of a number of different apple varieties.
• Be patient with the germination process. It can take several weeks for apple seeds to germinate.
• Keep the potting mix moist but not soggy. Overwatering can cause the seeds to rot.
• Fertilize the seedlings every few weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
• Transplant the seedlings into the ground in the spring or autumn.

Final thoughts

Apple trees grown from seed will not necessarily be true to type, meaning that the fruit they produce may not be the same variety as the parent tree they came from.

Growing an apple tree from seed can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially when you have young children who can get involved in growing their very own apple tree!

Do you have any tips on growing apple trees from seed? Let us know and we can add them to this article to help other people grow apple trees from seed.

Good luck, and happy germinating!