Apple Tree Sprouts

[Mtnboomer]

Hey everyone, I saved about 150 seeds from a mixed variety of apples last fall when making apple butter and sprouted them in the fridge. They are thriving little seedlings but I am running out of containers for them all (goid problem to have).
I know they are not true to the parent but I grow them mainly for wildlife. In about 6 short years, there will be apples everywhere for the local deer, turkey, bears, squirrels and everyone else to enjoy. Despite not being a true McIntosh or yellow delicious or Granny Smith etc, most are still very tasty and a nice snack as we stroll through the woods.
This year, I will be taking cuttings from my "true trees" to expand our orchard. I haven't asexually propagated fruit trees since college and im sure im a bit rusty but hopefully a few will take.
What cuttings or seeds are yall growing this season?

 

[hysop]

That’s so neat!! I also sprouted some apple seeds and have transplanted them to their individual 2 gal pots. I’m sprouting more in the fridge. I’m also doing it for looks not for the fruit. I also germinated some pear seeds but out of 12ish only 3 are still alive. I think part was overcrowding and three I lost to my kids crushing them.

 

[Justso]

Is there anything special you have to do to propagate apples from seed? My dd wants to try this.

 

[Self sufficient chickens]

Fun! My chickens loved to eat the leaves off of my baby apple trees

 

[hysop]

Is there anything special you have to do to propagate apples from seed? My dd wants to try this.

If she wants an apple tree that will produce edible apples she needs to get a tree from a nursery or study up on how to graft trees. But if she just wants to plant apple trees from seed and have it be a gamble if the tree will even produce fruit and if it does produce fruit if it will even be edible then she can just take seeds from an apple she eats, place them in a cup of water. The ones that float you should toss, they probably won’t germinate. Then get a paper towel spray with water. Place seeds on towel and fold it and spray with more water place inside a ziplock bag and seal it halfway then place at the back of the fridge for 3-4 months, then they’ll sprout and germinate. At least that’s what I did. Once they germinate go ahead and plant them in little seed starters. Did I understand your question correctly?

 

[hysop]

These seeds I placed in my fridge August 30th and this picture was taken February 16th. I could have transplanted them 2 months before this picture was taken but completely forgot about them. So they will grow this big just in your fridge. The paper towel was soaked and I never had to touch it at all those 5+ months it was in my fridge.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Is there anything special you have to do to propagate apples from seed? My dd wants to try this.

I harvest them from the apple (be sure to keep cultivars separate if you care) and wash the extra pulp off of them. Dampen 2 paper towels and lay them on top of each other. Align seeds in the middle and fold the towels over them. Fold over all edges. Lay flat into a gallon ziploc bag and store in the bottom of the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator for a min of 70 days ( or approximately until 1 month before last frost). They will sprout in the fridge and then i plant the seedlings in cells indoors until after danger of frost. Then i spend a week "hardening them off" by placing them outside in a shady spot with morning sun and then bringing them in a night if temps drop below 50F. After that they are planted in buckets or larger plant cells until they reach about 2ft in height. This may take another winter but they are left outside on a protected side of the house or garage. And planted the following spring or fall.
You can place multiple layers of seeds in one bag just avoid them getting bunched up or their roots will become intertwined and more difficult to separate without damage.
You can plant as early as their first fall but survival rates have dropped for me when ive done so. Cold and wildlife will take a heavy toll.
Be aware of the "sleep, creep, leap" hanit of new plantings. 1st year the appear to sleep. There is not a lot of above ground growth as much of the plant's energy is devoted to developing a strong root system
The 2nd year they creep or you begin to see some above ground growth but the roots are still doing their thing.
By the 3rd year, the roots are well established and now you really begin to see ghe tree "take off".
Depending on the species, i have had trees produce blossoms by their 5th year and apples by their 6th. About half may take up to 10yrs to produce fruit but production grows each season.

 

[Mtnboomer]

If she wants an apple tree that will produce edible apples she needs to get a tree from a nursery or study up on how to graft trees. But if she just wants to plant apple trees from seed and have it be a gamble if the tree will even produce fruit and if it does produce fruit if it will even be edible then she can just take seeds from an apple she eats, place them in a cup of water. The ones that float you should toss, they probably won’t germinate. Then get a paper towel spray with water. Place seeds on towel and fold it and spray with more water place inside a ziplock bag and seal it halfway then place at the back of the fridge for 3-4 months, then they’ll sprout and germinate. At least that’s what I did. Once they germinate go ahead and plant them in little seed starters. Did I understand your question correctly?

The apples developed from seed are still edible, they just do not exhibit the exact traits of the parents. Grafting is the only way to ensure that which is why 100% of commercial apples are from grafted trees of a single cultivar of that variety. But the apples from seed grown trees may not be as big, sweet, have the right color, etc. to match the apple from which they were taken but they are still edible and often still very good.