Be aware that most apple trees grown by farmers and gardeners come from grafted trees, and are not planted directly from the seed. Planting trees from apple seeds produced highly variable fruit, since apple trees are not guaranteed to grow according to their type or variety. The more seeds you plant, the more likely it will be that one of the trees will produce edible apples, as opposed to less edible varieties like crab apples. There is about a one in ten success rates of seeds growing into apple trees that produce fruit good enough to eat. Try to start the process of preparing the seeds during the fall, so that by the beginning of spring, the seeds are ready for planting.
Flip the seeds over every two days so that they dry evenly on both sides.
The process of storing the seeds in moist, cold conditions is called stratification. Stratification softens the hard outer coat of the seed and encourages the embryo inside the seed to start germinating. After three months, remove them from the refrigerator, and allow them to warm up so that you can plant them.
Pick an area of your yard that receives direct sunlight and that has rich, well-draining soil. Well-draining soil means that water drains through the soil easily, rather than pooling on the surface of the ground. Well-draining soil is usually dark and fertile looking, as opposed to thick and clay-like. Try to plant the seeds in early spring.
Compost enriches soil with essential nutrients and also makes soil airier so that it can drain better.
It’s possible to start the growth of apple trees in indoor pots rather than outside. Keep in mind that apple trees are healthier when they are initially planted outdoors instead of in pots.
Degradable pots, like peat pots, make transplanting easier and less shocking for the seedlings.
Apple trees ultimately will have to be transplanted outdoors, where conditions are better for growth. [14] X Research source
Choose an area of your garden with well-draining soil, meaning that when you pour a large amount of water into the soil, it quickly drains into the ground. Also choose an area of your garden that is in direct sunlight. Add a one inch (2. 54 cm) layer of compost to the soil to enrich it.
The biodegradable pots will eventually decompose, so that the apple tree seedling will be entirely surrounded by earth. After burying the pot, you should just be able to see the rim poking up out of the soil. Some biodegradable pots come with bottoms that easily pop out. You can also cut out the bottom of the pot to speed up the process of integrating the plant into the soil.
Consider adding an inch-thick (2. 54 cm) layer of sand over the soil if you live in a cold climate. Sand helps prevent the ground from crusting over in colder weather.
