How to Grow an Apple Tree from a Pip

[@bandit2048]

I visited Poland some years ago and was very impressed by one of the apples that I bought on a market there - it was so tasty - so I kept the pips and planted them when I got back to France. Several grew so I selected the best of them and grew them on. The result some years later is a couple of the finest trees that grow the tastiest apples - which I still call the Polish apple trees as I do not know the variety but they are probably some type of Reinette. As my ancestors were Polish I feel a real connection to these trees and they seem to have responded in kind. I have always been fascinated by trying to grow things - avocados, ginger, a turkey oak, herbs etc.- anything that I can take a cutting from or grow from a seed. Nature is so fascinating and I never cease to wonder at what she does. Am a relatively new subscriber but already finding your videos excellent - keep up the good work - the world needs many more gardeners - the more we connect back with the soil the better this world will be.

[@sparkstechnology]

I wish I had a bigger garden, there's so much I want to grow. Adding 3 more raised beds next year with arches in-between for climbing veg. Now I want an apple tree after watching this, Ben you have been the inspiration behind me turning my empty square garden into a gardeners project with veg and soft fruits growing. One day I hope to move to a property with a much bigger garden to expand on what I can grow.

[@Dirt-Fermer]

If you can raise a portion of the property up a couple feet you could plant a dwarf apple tree

[@toniedalton5448]

Keep growing !!

[@paul.1337]

You'd probably need to graft it yourself, or have a bench graft done for you, but apple trees on M.27 rootstock only grow to about 6'/~2m tall and half as wide. It's extremely dwarfing even by dwarf apple rootstock standards (most will produce a tree 8-12'/~2.5-4m, but can be kept smaller with pruning). They are small enough to grow in a large pot.

[@sarakay9983]

Try the book All You Can Eat In Three Square Feet. Amazing what you can grow in a small garden.👍🏼

[@imaginativeusername4732]

Can you get an allotment?

[@ScouseFarm]

Good tip there, a lot of people assume a pip from a Dwarf tree will also be a Dwarf tree, but then get a shock when it takes over the garden 😂 Columar fruit trees are great for small spaces and large containers as they only grow upright with no side growth. It still amazes me that I have Apples growing on a 5 ft 'stick' that takes up so little space. Thanks for the tips 👍

[@nebsun]

Growing Apple from seed is the cheapest way to create an orchard - the seeds that survive and grow strong are the ones that are best suited for the spot / soil / climate, etc. Then once the tree is big enough, you can then graft on the desired variety to get fruit early, and you can leave a few of the natural branches to produce whatever new variety you have created - and if you don't like it, you can graft on it to something better.

[@marywickersham1854]

I used to have a Delicious variety tree. The tree finally broke and looked nasty so we chopped it down. There were many seedlings around it, but I didn't really like the apple so cleared the area. Then, not even noticing, this beautiful bush appeared in my front yard. I kept it trimmed and then two summers ago, it bloomed. After checking the blossoms, I said to myself, this is an apple bush. Last year there were about 10 nice apples on it, most of which the squirrels enjoyed. This year, the bush was totally covered with blossoms. I harvested fresh apples for about three weeks before stealing them from the varmints. They were all so huge and juicy. I've never tasted a delicious variety that was so good. I never buy delicious apples because they are always dry, and the skins are tough. These, however, were excellent. I think I ate most of them myself. So even though, this video is interesting, I just wanted to share that I have the first ever, Delicious Apple Bush.

[@samvimes1482]

I wholeheartedly agree, together with my children we took the pips and now we have a two year old apple tree. Was warned that the resulting fruit could be either good or not so much. It's okay either way, I like trees. Thanks for the great video!

[@GrowVeg]

What a fantastic way to get the children infused by the natural world! :-)

[@ignis8154]

Done this with my kid. They make lovely bonsai material.

[@WaveMurray]

Was watching another grow veg then this uploaded. I’m excited to try growing an apple tree

[@Junk_World_Templar]

I managed to grow four this year, planted them with my 8 year old Son. I already have two mature apple trees, so might be on the way to having an orchard in about a decade haha.

[@GrowVeg]

Great job! :-)

[@karenellis5498]

I’ve never seen a plant stake set low and at 45 degrees like that. Love it when I learn something new on KZbin. Thx, love your work.

[@LightBeing369]

Such great and delicious things come from tiny seeds, it truly is amazing 🥰🍎❤

[@judifarrington9461]

I have rabbits that like to nibble on the young bark. I found putting a tree guard on my trees helps a lot. Some people use chicken wire around the tree to help with deer as well.

[@user-te7zz8mv3x]

you are a mind reader! i have collected some apple pips but wasn’t sure how or when to sow them 😉. many thanks

[@PaintingVideos]

Instead of kitchen towels you can put in coco dirt, in bag, in fridge, david the good's way, 3 months, then see sprouting

[@artistlovepeace]

GrowVeg, your channel is very inspiring and got me in the growing game at home. I love your content and lessons. Thanks for all your wonderful lectures and field work. I am growing in Minnesota with your help (adjusting for growing zone 5)...

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much for watching! :-)

[@CarolineMiller-g6e]

Thank you for this video. I have wanted to grow my own apple trees. I have apple trees already so I can wait for more apples 😁

[@valoriegriego5212]

Howdy, Ben!👋 Often, you post a video full of info I need in the season.😃 Earlier this year, I found a seed sprouting inside an apple I cut open. I planted it, and it's growing well.😃 Many folks in the US limit the size of fruit trees through pruning...2 per year. They give their purchase tree the first pruning when planted...cutting it down to 18 inches or 2 feet. The method seems to work well. Thanks for the know-how on apple trees!😃💕

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Valorie. Hope autumn is going well for you. :-)

[@Kitchenlabofficial]

Hello friend bahut khubsurat aur majedar red apple aur growing bhi bahut acchi Tarah se bhare hue

[@bethhubbs9937]

Kudos to the editor of this video. Very enjoyable. I loved the bit into the apple at about 5:42. :)

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much - our videographer will be thrilled with your comment. :-)

[@briankane6547]

Yup. My Grandad had an apple he liked Red, with pink flesh, He sowed the seeds. Two of his results? 1. A HUGE Tree we could climb - gave the sourest GREEN cooker type Apples which, if kept, turned yellow and sweet enough to eat. 2. A tiny Tree not much over 5' ≈ 1.5m tall, we NEVER did get a single Apple off - kids nicked them B4 ripe.

[@boscodiogigia]

Well done and good inspiration! We are going to save Apple Tree seeds! :)

[@DownButNotOutYet]

It really is amazing what we can grow when we set our minds and hearts to it!! Thank you Ben for an always inspiring garden talk and show. You are an inspiration to many of us, thank you for all your lovely garden ideas and suggestions, not forgetting the how to plant and harvest categories either. Wishing you an abundant harvest from the apple tree you planted. Kind regards.

[@GrowVeg]

Thank you so much! :-)

[@anatevkabell6046]

That’s interesting! I was told that you cannot grow apple trees from seed because, due to cross pollination, you will only get crab apples. But the video and comment section show otherwise. So I will give it a try. Thank you so much 🙏🏼

[@simulatethat6099]

Yep, it'll be a bit hit or miss because you don't know what the tree crossed with but it's not like it's guaranteed to be a crab apple. maybe the person who said that had a bunch of crab apples near by.

[@Aine197]

It‘s very likely that the fruit of your new tree tastes horrible. There are only very few tasty specimens of apple trees, and all the ones used to grow fruit are basically the same trees, grown from cuttings. It is possible that a tree grown from seed wins the genetic lottery and ends up bearing tasty fruit, but it is just that - a lottery.

[@simulatethat6099]

@@Aine197 Yea, if you want a full sized tree of a particular variety that's grafted to a dwarfing or semi-dwarfing root stock, air layer the scion and plant that.

[@billyd7628]

crab apples are are different species.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I love these forgotten skills

[@IvanChengWeiJiaBartleyss]

ur video was very interesting. I like it

[@fionnaheller1873]

The laws of coincidence strike yet again. I've been planning to plant an orchard in my fields and having spent years watching the wind and river flood patterns I think I may have identified a spot which should be successful, fingers crossed. I was mulling over starting these from seed so your video has arrived with impeccable timing - thank you. This being Caithness, and the situation a clifftop one, my garden orchard struggles. One day, long after I am gone, the shelter belt I've also planted will allow the various fruit trees I've planted here, I hope, to thrive. On a tangential note, and referring back to the multitude of plants that were donated, the ''dead'' 7 foot stick in a tiny pot, now called Lazarus, turned out to be a conference pear and he is doing very nicely and is all set to overwinter in his pot in the polytunnel as a reward for coming back to life. I will plant him out after the Spring storms - not quite conventional wisdom but less trauma for him, and he is safely in a pot after all.

[@christine6878]

Congrats on Lazarus! I always go to the ‘dead plant’ section in garden centres…..it’s often a rewarding challenge to bring a neglected plant back to life.

[@fionnaheller1873]

@@christine6878 My husband has long rolled his eyes when I bring back some dead stick and I told him you can feel the plant begging for mercy. This time he was collecting a load of landscaping plants and spotted a heap destined to be burned and asked if he could take them for me. Poor Lazarus ''spoke'' to him when he picked him up to get to the other plants being donated so now he accepts my lunacy. I was ridiculously happy when the first leaf appeared! [and most of the others - all kinds from hedging to gaultheria] made it too] I'm so glad you do the same : there is obviously a community of us and it is really rewarding - you are quite right.

[@christine6878]

@@fionnaheller1873 I hate to see the plants so sad, most times they just need some tlc, and I get a little buzz when they perk up. 😊🌱, as you say I’m sure we’re not the only plant Samaritans. Happy gardening.

[@fionnaheller1873]

@@christine6878 It is a very particular joy, isn't it! Its has been lovely to chat with you - and I, too, wish you the same. Thank you

[@GrowVeg]

Fantastic to hear that Lazarus rises to see another day!

[@Soulmasons]

I tried growing from royal gala pips I espalliered the tree and it looked impressive after afew years, but never produced fruit and was susceptible to disease I gave it 7 years then chopped it down and planted a bought cox's orange pippin in a large container, this fruits beautifully.

[@cat07777]

I’m looking forward to the progress of your apple tree Ben😀. I have two new apple trees that were planted last year which already had apples on them but this year they both didn’t even flower. 😕Yeah, no apples at all. So, I’m looking forward to any advice you give in the future. Big HUG to you and your family 🤗

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. Young apple trees can be a bit erratic in producing fruit. So probably just having an off year as they get more established.

[@Mike.Smth2112]

They’re best grown for ornamental value honestly. I set about 5 apple seedlings 2 years ago and got about 2 good and vigorous trees and discarded the rest. I gave one to my aunt and she planted it in her garden. It must be nearly 4ft tall already which is impressive. A few more years and it will be flowering. Worst thing about apple trees is that they are a pest magnet even if they’re not a specific crop variety. I have one and the aphids descend upon the shoots every May and later on the leaf miners. Worst of all last year I unknowingly gave it a rust disease by collecting pollen from a wild tree and can’t seem to get rid of it even after disposing of diseased leaves and fruits.

[@clearfitness1954]

I keep my apples in the refrigerator because I like to eat cold apples. after I eat my apples, I put them in the compost bin that compost is later buried in the yard and as a result I now have a apple tree growing from the compost

[@PennyFarmer-w8g]

Good episode. Thank you. Apple trees next year!!

[@46FreddieMercury91]

Very interesting video. I do think it's worth the money to buy a specially grafted rootstock since the tree is a long term investment

[@evedestructionbroadcasting9447]

Ayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy I wanna grow apple trees. So versatile.

[@ArmigerRu]

Next video: How to make 10 gallons of cider...😁

[@GrowVeg]

Sounds like a great idea! :-)

[@ArmigerRu]

@@GrowVeg I hope to see it one day then😄

[@primateriawiberg2998]

Hi there Ben! Inspirational as always 🎉 What variety of apple did you plant?

[@GrowVeg]

I planted a 'James Grieve'. :-)

[@dalibofurnell]

Iv only ever grown them into little seedlings but the seedlings died , they didnt grow over 5-6cm long unfortunately they were very sensitive and i think i didnt water them correctly or they werent in good soil or the conditions werent right . But its still exciting to grow something from seed ❤

[@toniedalton5448]

Thanks for this. I've tried for a few years to get a seed started but not this way. Hoping for success this time. I have 3 peach trees I started from seeds. I love to use seeds to start new plants. We have a nut bush here in the Appalachians called chinqapins. They are like little chestnuts. They are disappearing. I have tried many times to get one started. Still trying Have a blessed day

[@GrowVeg]

And you. Hope they grow well. :-)

[@possumyx]

When I was a child, a discarded apple core started to root in a small pot of compost. Eight years later the first blossoms appeared. The apples were pretty close to the Cox's orange pippin original. The tree produced 100s of apples every year. Sadly, it was too big to move when we did.

[@iggzistentialism8458]

Unfortunately, apples from seeds are generally nothing like the parents due to heterozygosity. You are just as likely to get something like a crab apple. It's not just down to where the pollen comes from - it can be the pollen from the parent you want, and still fail miserably. It's completely different to most other garden plants where you breed two plants for desirable traits in the young....with apple you still get random traits.

[@TommyMLe]

Crab apple still makes a nice cider and yummy pickled too. My family had a crab apple tree growing up on our homestead. Ahh fun times.

[@nebsun]

Can always graft something better onto the branches if it turns out to be undesirable

[@PaintingVideos]

You have to try. And we'll have that orchard. Seed now and be so happy in 7 years. You CAN get great apples

[@__Shellspace__]

IM SO EXCITED TO BUY SOME GRAFTED TREES , oops caps XD i have five citrus trees from seed but maybe another 5 years before i get fruit if i keep them alive , and i didnt realise the time it takes so christmas list gifts for me this year is grafted fruit tress x

[@brittrucker7218]

Growing from seed could give you an enormous tree as the height is usually detemined by the rootstock it was grafted to.

[@thenextpoetician6328]

And remember to rig up rodent guard around the base. And protecting the tree from the NW wind in winter any way you can.

[@SomeOneHigh]

0:50 👍 5:00 👍 6:25 👍 7:08 😂😂😂 LETS GET DIGGING 😂

[@richardparsons7012]

I was never a biology student, but I took and elective module on microbiology. We ran a group experiment to sequence samples of whatever we wanted, to then be able to define tbe species. I took an apple seed, and utterly pissed off all of my buddies, who were very serious biology majors. Because they couldn't give a definite answer as to what they had tested. The professor thought I was hilarious though.

[@GrowVeg]

Love this! :-)

[@chairajones6365]

First round was Granny smith they got to a foot tall then died. Now second round I found out I had the wrong soil. Now I have red/yellow apple saplings 6 of them I changed their soil mix more sand and perilte they are good now. I have lemons cuttings rooted going great. Started Donut Peach cuttings hoping they turn out.

[@SarahDorglo-uy5xb]

I like your video very much have you ever thought of growing other fruit trees such as cherries I like to is your tips on growing them

[@GrowVeg]

I've never grown fruit from pips or seeds, so would love to try other fruits some day. But generally planting grafted fruit trees will give such better results.

[@SarahDorglo-uy5xb]

Nice

[@SarahDorglo-uy5xb]

But are apples the only fruit you've ever tried or the only ones in your garden

[@SarahDorglo-uy5xb]

But I think there lots of fruit trees you should try I'd rather prefer watching your ideas because they really inspire me

[@SoulsJourney]

Welp, I think that explains how I have an apple tree in my backyard that's at least 30' tall! It was huge when I moved into this house, so I have no idea if it was deliberately planted or self-sown ages ago. The worst part is the best apples are always up at the top where I can't get to them. The ones lower down never really turn red, and just fall. I have no idea what variety they are. I'm thinking of removing this tree and replacing it with a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety (or two).

[@gladysvaldez1567]

I love it

[@PaintingVideos]

The tree grows as big as you let it. You can trim. You should

[@bbsaid218]

Is there a difference between Stratification and Vernalisation?

[@GrowVeg]

As I understand it, stratification could involve keeping seeds either warm or cold before sowing. Whereas vernilisation is very much about simulating winter conditions only.

[@NigelQuemard]

Does it work with pears and lemons etc

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, you could sow pears in a similar way. I don't think lemons need a period of chilling - they can be sown straight away.

[@alexbrown975]

I thought you have to graft apple trees for good quality apples. You wont end up with the same apples you get from the pip.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes indeed, which is why I show how to plant a grafted apple tree as a preferable alternative in the second half of the video. :-)

[@CraigBuccalo]

Is anyone else keeping your trees small with pruning? I prune mine twice a year. In the winter to prune out the crossing limbs, damaged limbs, and limbs growing to the center. Mid-summer I prune them for the height which for me is 1.83 meters or 6 feet tall. For me this gives me plenty of apples with ever little work.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, pruning is a smart way to keep trees to a manageable size.

[@IvanChengWeiJiaBartleyss]

can i grow apples in south east asia?

[@GrowVeg]

Apples need a period of chilling, so it is likely too hot in most parts of southeast Asia.

[@IvanChengWeiJiaBartleyss]

@@GrowVeg If I managed to germinate the seed, is it possible for it to grow into an apple tree that produces apples in the hot tropical humid weather?

[@briankane6547]

Tautology lad - "~ ~ onto which it is grafted onto."

[@gerald4027]

Most of the time that the fruit would not be as good as from the parent tree.That is why there is grafted trees.

[@christhomson595]

Ben what boots are you wearing I want some

[@GrowVeg]

I think they were from Mountain Warehouse - not hugely expensive. www.mountainwarehouse.com/footwear/walking-boots/?_gl=1*1yuvahv*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwyfe4BhAWEiwAkIL8sIrXLPff2Lg06QJ_cb8XdDD3OPBfA7tPw3tAQoQ7tv-jgehH5zSYYBoCVogQAvD_BwE

[@Pwecko]

The chance of getting a decent apple from a seed is very small.

[@hevchip741]

I got some lovely ones.

[@Dirt-Fermer]

The chance of you getting them from whining about the difficulty is zero.

[@Ruhma.]

If I'm not wrong, aren't apple trees usually propagated from cuttings for this reason?

[@hevchip741]

@@Ruhma. yes

[@Pwecko]

@@Dirt-Fermer Is it something you've done?

[@calendulaofficinalis7303]

So the answer to the title is: slowly ;)

[@GrowVeg]

Yes indeed!

[@simulatethat6099]

gonna need to rebrand GrowFruit

[@ashleystretton973]

Yea Apples can be grown from pips but the seeds don’t come true to the mother tree so after many years of growing you could end up with an inedible apple! Not worth the time and effort, just graft onto rootstock, will grow much quicker and will actually be a clone of the mother tree and the apples you already enjoy the taste of!

[@mariasilvinat244]

I germinated apple seeds many times, and they are successful until I plant them and some little bugs eat them 😢

[@cassieoz1702]

You dont have problems with codlin moth?

[@GrowVeg]

Not that I've experienced in my area, no.

[@joman104]

There is so much mis information about growing fruit trees from seed. It takes decades for new varieties to be developed because they are looking for something perfect. Disease resistance, pretty fruit, good taste, good shelf life. I have an apple tree in my yard from seed that produced its first fuits this year, it wasnt there when i moved into the house so its likely less than 10 years old. The apples were small compaired to store apples, but they tasted great and are a totally different color from ithe mother tree(yellow instead of red)..

[@sonelalpatel8264]

Eating for apple for very grow body

[@gerald4027]

Can you do this with marijuana trees?

[@GrowVeg]

Not sure they're trees!

[@RawLondonGardener]

👍👍👍📸📸📸📸📸

[@cassieoz1702]

I have large mature apple trees so i dont get ANY fruit because of cockatoos 🤬. Ditto most of the stonefruit

[@GrowVeg]

What a nuisance!

[@robertlee6479]

What a fool idea, then you'll have a tree 50 ft high that you need a ladder to pick the apples of and wait a long time before you get any apples like that one behind you. You need to graft it to small rootstock then you might get some apples before you retire. You don't 1/2 get em on here.

[@GrowVeg]

If you watch the full video, you’ll see me explain the downfalls of sowing by pips and that planting a grafted tree is a much better idea. :-)

[@robertlee6479]

@@GrowVeg So why bother telling people about growing from pips when you know it's a waist of time, that why I didn't watch it all as am an apple grower for many years and would never try growing from a pip.