How to Plant and Grow Apple Trees from Seeds

You can find many varieties of apples in a grocery store today. There are Fuji, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Pink Ladies, Galas, Rome Beauties, Granny Smiths, Jonagolds, and MacIntosh, just to name a few. Most of these apples are grown in the United States.

Apples are a versatile fruit because they can be eaten raw right off the tree. Or, they can be cooked or baked. There is applesauce, apple pie, cake, cider, cider vinegar, and much more!

Just like many other fruits, apples have a long history. Their seeds and small apple trees were brought over to America from England about four hundred years ago. A man named John Chapman is credited with planting apple seeds across the United States. He later earned the nickname, "Johnny Appleseed" for his contributions.

You can easily grow your own apple trees from seeds, although it does take a lot of time for your trees to mature and produce an edible crop of fruit. If you plant a small apple tree, it will take about three to four years for the tree to mature and start to bear fruit. Growing apple trees from seeds will take upwards of ten years before your trees will produce a edible crop.

Apple seeds need to be started indoors. This can be done in one of two ways: you can place some apple seeds into a paper towel. Fold the paper towel over into a small square. Keep the paper towel wet, and place it in your refrigerator. Keep checking the seeds and keeping them moist. In a week or so, your apple seeds will sprout. They are now ready to plant outside. Or, you can use a Styrofoam cup filled with potting soil to start your seeds. Dig a shallow hole in the middle of the potting soil and plant the apple seeds there. Set the container on a sunny windowsill and keep the soil moistened. In a week or so, the apple seeds will sprout. They will then be ready to plant outside.