How Long Does It Take To Grow An Apple Tree From Seed?

It may take eight to ten years or longer for an apple tree grown from seed to be mature enough to produce fruit, and the apples it brings forth will be different from the apple you remember eating years ago.

Will an apple tree grown from seed produce fruit?

First of all, apple trees grown from seeds (and will not get grafted in the future) will most likely not produce fruits for the first 7-10 years of their life. Some of them may not produce fruits for the whole of their lifetime.

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How hard is it to grow an apple tree from seed?

Apple seeds are easy to grow at home with the proper preparation, and seedlings are often more vigorous than their grafted nursery counterparts. Give an apple tree seedling 3-4 years, and it’ll catch up to and pass a potted transplant in size.

How do you start an apple tree from a seed?

Clean the seeds off so that they don’t have any fruit juice or apple bits on them, and place each seed into a small pot filled with potting mix. Because apples come from temperate climates, the seeds need to be stratified (kept cool and moist) for a couple of months before they’ll germinate.

How long does it take to grow an apple tree from seed? – Related Questions

Can you put apple seeds straight into soil?

Yes you can, but the tree that grows won’t be the same as the tree that the seed came from. Apples do not reproduce true to type, meaning that the tree from the seed will produce apples that are almost certain to be different than the parent.

What month do you plant apple seeds?

If you live in a colder climate with all four seasons, then your best bet for when to plant apple trees is in early spring once the ground thaws. But if you’re in an area where the ground doesn’t freeze in the winter, then you’ll want to wait until early fall for when to plant apple trees and thus avoid a cruel summer.

Can you grow an apple tree from a fresh apple seed?

It is possible to grow an apple tree from an apple seed. However, in most cases, apple trees don’t come true from seeds. For example, a seed taken from a Red Delicious apple will not produce a Red Delicious apple tree. Seedling apple trees are genetically different and usually inferior to the parent tree.

Do you have to let apple seeds dry before planting?

The seeds need a dry out period followed by a stratification period. If you skip these 2 steps you probably won’t have success germinating your apple seeds. If you want to germinate apple seeds collected from an apple first let the seeds dry out for 3-4 weeks.

Can you grow apple trees from seeds from store bought apples?

It’s a long term project, but you actually can grow a new tree from a store bought apple. All you need are a few supplies and plenty of patience. To begin, take an apple of your choice and remove the seeds within the core, being careful not to nick or cut them.

Do you need two apple trees to get apples?

Apples are self-unfruitful. Plant at least two different apple tree varieties within 50 feet of one another for a good fruit set. Some apple varieties, such as Golden Delicious, will produce a crop without cross-pollination from a second variety.

Can I grow an apple tree indoors?

“It is very possible to grow fruit trees indoors! But it is best to purchase the dwarf varieties (for size) and the most mature trees (faster fruiting times) available,” she says. Most fruit trees, she adds, need bright, full sun for approximately 6-8 hours a day all year long to present with fruit.

Can I grow a Honeycrisp apple tree from seed?

Honeycrisp apple tree seeds can be germinated indoors prior to planting by placing the seeds in a shallow bed of peat moss and keeping moist in a warm room for about four weeks. Honeycrisp trees that are purchased as young trees from garden stores may be planted at any time of the year.

Do you need 2 Honeycrisp apple trees?

Like most apple trees, Honeycrisp apple trees require a pollinator to be fruitful. That means there needs to be another apple tree of a different variety — ideally growing within 50 feet of the Honeycrisp tree — for adequate cross-pollination.

Do I need to plant 2 Honeycrisp apple trees?

Yes. Honeycrisp apple trees don’t self-pollinate, so they need other apple trees that are six to 12 feet away to help with fertilization.

How do you germinate apple seeds in a paper towel?

Instructions

Remove the seeds from the apple.
Place the seeds in a warm dry place and allow them to dry out completely.
Wet the paper towel and then squeeze excess water from the towel.
Place the apple seeds onto the paper towel and place into the zip lock bag.
Place in the refrigerator.

What is the fastest way to germinate apple seeds?

Is it better to germinate seeds in soil or paper towel?

Many seeds germinate much quicker in paper towels (versus seeds that are started in soil). The heat, moisture, and controlled conditions inside a plastic baggie help them germinate in only a few days (or less, depending on the seed).