How to grow an apple tree from seed – go from core to tree in 5 simple steps

Apple trees are hugely popular, and thousands of apple cultivars exist worldwide. Most apple trees planted nowadays are grafted, but you can grow an apple tree from seed if you so desire.

The main question is why you would grow an apple tree from seed. It requires a great deal of patience and represents a big gamble because there is no guarantee of a satisfying result.

It can be a fun experiment to grow an apple tree in this way and enjoy the satisfaction of cultivating plants in unorthodox ways from scraps usually thrown in the trash. If you do have an apple core and want to try to grow an apple tree from seed, we outline five steps to follow to boost your chance of success.

Can you grow an apple tree from seed?

Yes, you can grow an apple tree from seed. But a better question is whether the endeavour is worthwhile. It is not a quick and simple way to grow fruit trees and the result will be unpredictable.

Steve Frecon, a third-generation apple farmer at Frecon Farms in Pennsylvania, claims it is ‘nearly impossible’ to grow a ‘predictable quality apple’ from seed. ‘The seeds in your Honeycrisp or Gala or other apple that you eat at home contain the genetic material of over 6,800 named varieties in addition to many unnamed varieties,’ he says. ‘Like a new baby is not an identical clone of either parent but a blend of each parent and the child's ancestors, an apple seed is very much the same.’

There is little guarantee that the apples that may grow on the tree are the same as the type you ate. Indeed, there is a high risk the apples will be inedible. Given that it can take 7-10 years to get any fruit, do not grow an apple tree from seed if you are after consistent, delicious fruits year after year.

You can experiment and have fun with growing apples from seeds. But if you want to plant a fruit tree to give you a particular apple variety, it is much better to buy grafted trees - these are commonly available from nurseries, garden centers and online.

How to grow an apple tree from seed in 5 steps

If you want to try to grow an apple tree from seed, following these five steps can help to give you a favorable outcome.

1. Dry the seeds

After extracting the seeds from your chosen apple, they must be cleaned and dried before sowing. Carefully remove any pieces of fruit on the seeds and lay the apple seeds out for a few days to air dry them. It is advisable to start several seeds from different types of apples to increase your chances of success.

2. Stratify the seeds

Apple seeds need a period of cold stratification to mimic winter and encourage the seeds to germinate. This can be easily achieved at home by putting them in a refrigerator to simulate cold winter temperatures.

‘Put them in the refrigerator between two damp paper towels, and the seed should sprout within two weeks to two months,’ recommends Lisa Tadewaldt, tree expert and founder at Urban Forest Pro. Place the paper towels in a sealable container and check regularly to keep them moist. An alternative to paper towels is to put the seeds in damp peat moss.

It requires patience as apple seeds can take up to 90 days to germinate. Don’t expect them all to germinate as the success rate may only be around 30 per cent. ‘Once they sprout it is time to plant them,’ adds Lisa.

Lisa Tadewaldt

Lisa Tadewaldt is the founder and owner of Urban Forest Professionals, an arborist company out of Portland, OR, that has been serving that community for over 15 years

3. Plant the sprouted seed

When they have sprouted, sow the seeds indoors in pots filled with a good, well-draining potting mix. Fill your chosen pot with soil and make a small hole at least twice the depth and width of the sprouted seed. Place the seed in the hole, lightly cover it with soil and water well.

4. Give them light and warmth

Put the container somewhere warm and light, such as in a greenhouse or on a bright windowsill. ‘The ideal soil temperature would be 40-50°F. If your home has an ambient temperature of around 68°F your soil for germinating seeds would be in range,’ advises Steve Frecon of Frecon Farms.

An ideal spot will get around 12 hours of bright, indirect light. Avoid baking them in direct sunlight and use grow lights to supplement natural levels if required.

Keep a close eye on when to water plants to maintain consistent moisture. Steve adds: ‘Keep the soil moist, but not wet. If the soil is too wet the seed will rot and if too dry the seed will not germinate.’

5. Plant outside in a sunny spot

The seedlings should appear through the soil and start developing their first leaves within a few weeks of planting. Continue to provide consistent light and moist soil as the seedling grows and move to a cold frame or cool greenhouse once it develops a few sets of true leaves. If the young apple tree outgrows its pot, transplant the seedling into a larger container.

‘Once the seedling has reached a height of 12" and the soft tissue has begun to transform to a bark it is time to move your tree outside,’ recommends Steve Frecon. This can take 6-12 months from planting the sprouted seed. Apple trees want a sunny spot, a well-draining soil type, and a space of at least 20 feet to grow in.

FAQs

Can I grow apple trees from store-bought apples?

You can grow an apple tree from seeds extracted from a store-bought apple. However, remember that any fruit you will get will not be the same variety as that apple.

Growing any fruit tree from seed requires patience and an understanding that the eventual fruit may taste different from the original fruit. If you want to do further experiments, there are several fruits you can grow from seed. The potential options include growing a cherry tree from seed, though it may take 10 years to harvest fruit. A quicker alternative can be to grow a peach tree from seed, as it takes 3-5 years to get the first fruits.