Teddy12b
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Is it too late to start apple trees from seed in July?

I got excited about growing my own apple trees from seed late in the year. Currently, I've had the seeds in the fridge in a ziplock in a wet paper towel for just over a month. I think they'd be ready to be removed and woken up, but I also don't want to set them up for failure either by getting them started at the end of July.

So here's the dilemma. Do I try to get a few little trees started immediately and just be happy with whatever growth I can get before winter hits? Do I be patient and wait until early spring to get these seeds to germinate? Do I get these seeds started in some kind of a container outside and then bring them inside throughout the winter to let them continue growing? Do I divide the seeds up and take some combination of all of the above and see what I get the best results with?

I need the advice of more experienced people than myself.

tomc
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Cold stratification is a seasonal matter. In the fall I set up shallow pans. They wake up in the spring. My expectation is that what ever you try most of your apple seed will germinate outdoors in the spring.

*If* you have a greenhouse and soil made up you might defeat the seasons, but I've never had much luck at it.

PS: I like it that you are starting out with seed. You can always graft top-wood you like to them.

Teddy12b
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Well I've planted full grown tree also but I'd like to mix it up with some I started from seed. It'll be a few more trees with a few more stories to them over time.

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Meatburner
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Just my opinion here, but starting apples from seeds is not a good idea. They will not be true to the plant you harvested it from. Anyone else may have a different opinion.

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Gary350
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I think you have a good idea. Start your seeds in pots outside in full shade. Some fruit seeds send roots straight down several inches before it ever starts to grow a tree. Red clay pots work good in the ground. Did a hole put the clay pots in the hole flush with the soil surface. Plant the seeds in the pots. Pots will stay moist from the yard soil but water them too.

tomc
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John Chapman one of the great apple speculators set out orchards for cider making, and then sold off the orchards.

He used exclusively apple seed he collected from pomace (the left overs of cider making), as his plant stocks,

I agree that there is variability in trees grown out from seed. Which is why grafting desirable top wood is routinely done. and field run trees much less common.

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!potatoes!
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don't get any new varieties unless you plant seed. as well as grafting other 'good' varieties onto seedling rootstock, consider grafting a twig of seedling onto a more established tree (this may be a couple years down the line)- it will let you evaluate the seedling's fruit much sooner.

Teddy12b
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I should mention the seeds I bought some supposed to be Fuji's. They were like $2 on ebay from a seed dealer. If they work out that's great, but if they produce some funky kind of apple I'm sure the deer will appreciate that just as well as a pure one.

tomc
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The question isn't so much about the variability of apples grown from seed, it is what you plan to do with the fruit.

if you were making apple butter, cider, applesauce or vinager, nobody will ever notice your seed grown trees variability.

If you were marketing apples for table, you might want to graft.

Teddy12b
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For me, I just want to be outside in the backyard and have a snack that grows from a tree. I'd love to let friends and family come over and harvest apples at some point down the road as well.

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ElizabethB
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Teddy - are you able to provide good indoor growing conditions? If so start them now. I hate itty bitty starter pots and always start my seeds in 4" nursery pots. Get to know people at the big box nurseries and local nurseries - you can get the pots for $0. 1 seed per pot in all purpose potting soil. Keep evenly moist. Light is not an issue until the seeds sprout. Once the seeds sprout you do need to provide adequate light. Question - are Fuji apples suitable for your region? Fruit trees are EXTREMELY region specific. Nurse your seedlings over winter indoors. Plan on potting them up to a 1 gallon nursery pot after they sprout. If I were in your shoes I would plan on keeping the young trees in pots for three years. Potting them up at least once each year until they are in a 3 gallon - preferably 5 gallon container. THEN plant them in the ground.

Good luck on your experiment.

Teddy12b
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I've got a basement that I could get them started in pretty easily. I don't know about getting that many pots though. I

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ElizabethB
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Teddy - how many are you planning on starting? Do you have room for that many mature trees on your property?

4" and 3/4 to 1 gallon pots are easy. Big box nurseries and local nurseries cull their plants. If they do not sell on a clearance rack they end up in the dumpster. They won't give you the plants but if you talk to the nursery specialist you can get the containers. You can also get the trays to set them in. Wash well in a mild bleach solution, rinse well and you are off and running.

Look up local landscaping companies. They will have all sizes of nursery pots that you can get for little or nothing.

For 5 gallon buckets check with fast food joints. They get sliced pickles and frozen strawberries in 5 gallon buckets. Speak to the owner and you can get them for little or nothing. Drill holes for drainage. Done deal.

Think outside the box. There are lots of cheap or free resources out there for the asking. If you compost and need greens visit your local produce market. Bring heavy leaf bags and you can get all that you need FREE. I wanted to make a demi glace and needed beef bones. There is a neighborhood market 2 blocks from my house that has a very nice meat department. I asked and they kept beef bones for me. I took a few weeks to get enough but it was free and they even sliced the bones for me.

If there is a Habitat for Humanity restore location in your area that is a great place to find shelving and lighting super cheap. My Niece purchased a whirlpool tub - brand new - motor and plumbing included - for $100.

Get creative and you will be amazed at what you can find.

Good luck

Teddy12b
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Location: North East Indiana

I've got enough room for the mature trees on the property for sure.

I took the 20 seeds out of the fridge and laid them out on a table the sun hits and four of them sprouted immediately . I put them in a barrel sized pot outside that was already full of potting soil. We'll see how it goes and hopefully things will work out. I'll check the rest of the seeds when I get home tonight.



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