Can You Take Seeds from Apple Trees and Plant Them?

One of the joys of eating an apple is the anticipation of finding the core, where you can extract the seeds, and plant them. While many people are enamored by the idea of growing an apple tree, few know the real process involved in planting seeds from apple fruit. In this article, we will explore whether you can take seeds from apple trees and plant them.

The Short Answer

The simple answer to whether you can take seeds from apple trees and plant them is yes, you can. However, the big question is whether it is a viable option. When you plant seeds from an apple, you will grow an apple tree, no doubt. However, it is unlikely that the resulting tree will produce the same kind of apple from which you took the seed.

The Genetics of an Apple Tree

The apple fruit that we eat is the result of the pollination of a flower from a different apple tree variety. This means that the seed inside the apple is a combination of two parent trees, and the fruit that grows from it could bear more resemblance to one of the parent trees than the original apple.

The chances that the apple tree that grows from the seeds will produce a fruit that resembles the original apple is low. It is also possible that the fruit produced will be inedible or not as desirable as the original apple.

The Alternative to Planting Apple Seeds

If the goal is to grow an apple tree with a particular variety of apple, the best option is to purchase a grafted tree. Planted from a cutting, a grafted apple tree is made up of two different apple varieties - one for the rootstock and another for the fruit-bearing branches.

Grafted apple trees are beneficial because they produce a consistently reliable and desired apple variety, and they make planting and growing an apple tree much more efficient than starting with seeds.

Conclusion

So, can you take seeds from apple trees and plant them? The answer is yes, but the chances of growing a tree that produces the same kind of apple as the parent tree are slim. The best option for growing a particular kind of apple tree is to purchase a grafted tree from a reputable supplier. Now, that you know the facts, you can make an informed decision on how you want to proceed with planting apple trees!