It happens that the apples purchased in the store turn out to be so delicious that a person immediately lights up with the desire to grow such fruits in his garden plot. However, all that he has left for planting is the seeds. But far from everyone knows how to grow an apple tree from a seed. In fact, this is not so difficult, but not always the result satisfies the gardener. There is a possibility that a wild tree will grow on the site, on which small and sour apples will ripen. But if you still decide to take a chance, then this article is for you.
Pick the seeds
If you have purchased several apples in the store, then select the ripe and juiciest fruits. If a delicious fruit grows, for example, in the area of your neighbor, then ripe apples in autumn must be collected on the south side of the tree.
How to grow an apple tree that does not freeze in winter? First of all, ask the seller from which country the fruits were brought. Seeds of apples grown in southern countries are unlikely to survive in our climate.
After you extract the seeds from the apple, they must be placed in a small container, filled with water and left in a warm place for several days.
What soil to plant?
First, determine which type of soil your apple tree will grow on. If you live in a region with harsh winters, then seeds need to be planted immediately in the soil. Thanks to this, the roots of the tree will go deep underground, which will help the plant survive the frosts. Such an apple tree will live quite a long time and actively bear fruit. However, they need soil in which groundwater is deep enough.
How to grow an apple tree from a seed if the soil is marshy on a garden plot? First you need to grow seedlings in buckets or large slides, and then plant them in a permanent place. In this case, most often the root rod breaks, and therefore can not go deep into the ground. This lowers the winter hardiness of apple trees. But at the same time, plants are not afraid of a high level of groundwater.
We plant seeds in the ground
At the prepared site, you need to dig a hole (depth - about 30 centimeters). It contains fertile, well-drained soil. Its level should be 5-8 centimeters above the surface of the earth.
Also, not everyone knows when to plant apple trees. Selected seeds are sown before the start of frost. They are placed to a depth of 2-3 cm according to the 10 x 10 pattern. After this, it is necessary to mulch the area using fallen leaves or needles. Do not use oak leaves or leaves of fruit trees. They will inhibit the growth of your tree.
In winter, the seeds will not freeze, as they will undergo the process of natural stratification. In the soil layer in which our seeds are located, the temperature should be from 0 to -2 ° C.
What to do next, how to grow an apple tree from a seed? In the spring, it is necessary to remove the mulch, only then our seeds will begin to sprout a little. Do not forget that germination does not exceed 70%, and may amount to only 50%. Therefore, seeds should be planted as much as possible.
First apple care
After a while, your seedlings will grow and get stronger. As soon as they acquire 8 real leaves, it will be necessary to cull and then pick them with a soil lump. Experienced gardeners who know how to grow an apple tree from a seed leave only the strongest seedlings, the trunk of which is not twisted.
Further, in summer, young plants will not require special care. You need to perform only standard procedures: loosen the soil, water the trees, monthly feed and weed them. In the first year of life, by the fall, the diameter of the trunks of apple trees will reach 1 centimeter, and growth will be about 50-70 centimeters.
Further apple care
It is important not only to know when it is better to plant apple trees, but also when to reject them again. It is in the first autumn that this procedure is performed again. Only the strongest seedlings can be planted in permanent places.
If hares are found in your region, then in winter you need to put up a fence from them, since their favorite treat is the bark of a young apple tree. For protection, you need to wrap a newspaper in 3-4 layers around tree trunks and tie it all up with twine.
Decide in advance which particular variety you want to have on your site, find grafting material. In the second or third year, in the summer, you need to budge with a kidney, or in the spring - vaccination with a cuttings. So, an apple tree from a seed will gradually grow on your site, which will delight you with its fruits.
Plant nutrition
After the fruit trees begin to be harvested, their roots begin to grow vigorously. You already know how to plant an apple tree from a seed, but in order for it to please you with its fruits, it must be fed. The approximate fertilizer consumption, depending on the age of the plant, is (per 1 sq. M of crown):
- from 7 to 12 years - potassium chloride (half a cup), simple superphosphate (glass), organic (1 bucket);
- from 13 to 20 years - potassium chloride (2/3 cup), simple superphosphate (one and a half cups), organics (1 bucket).
Remember - organic matter is added only once every four years. An apple tree on a dwarf rootstock is not fed every year in the fall before she turns 4 years old.
Seedlings
At the end of the article it is necessary to tell how to grow an apple tree with a seedling from a seed. At the end of autumn or at the very beginning of winter, seeds are planted in the ground. You can sow 2-3 pieces nearby. Even before the leaves begin to bloom (in early spring), the sprouts must be carefully divided so that their roots are not mixed up. After this, young plants can be immediately planted in the ground, or can be placed in pots.
The apple tree needs to be strengthened, so it must be kept at home for a year. Pots with seedlings are placed in a well-lit place, water and fertilize plants. After a while, the apple tree will begin to drop foliage. At this point, the pots need to be moved to a cold place. It can be a garage, a refrigerator or a cellar. Some gardeners bury pots on a garden site so that the ground level in them was at the same level with the soil surface. After this, the apple trees are covered with lutrasil. Annual seedlings are planted in a permanent place next spring.