Apple Core With Seeds for Planting
image by Marykbaird: Morguefile.com
Anyone who has bitten into a fresh, crisp apple has probably wondered if the seeds in the core could grow into an apple tree. It seems so simple to just take a seed and plant it in the ground, but there is a little more involved. Don't be put off, though, because apple trees can be grown from seeds, as long as you follow a few guidelines.
Collect a dozen apple seeds and place them in the middle of a paper towel. Fold the towel in half, then in half again and one last time in half. Sprinkle a couple teaspoons of water over the paper towel and place it in the bag. Close it up and set it in the back of the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator.
Let the seeds sit for six weeks or until you start to see some seeds sprouting. Only about a third of them will germinate, which is why you start with a dozen seeds.
Pour some potting soil into a 6-inch pot so that it fills it up to about an inch from the top. Poke a few holes in the dirt about an inch deep with the back of a pencil.
Place the sprouted seeds gently into the holes and push some dirt over them. Tap the soil gently over the seeds and then dribble some water over the soil, until it is moist.
Set the pot in a sunny window and water the seedlings when the soil gets dry to the touch. You can move the pot outside once there is about 12 hours of daylight. Your tree will take a few years to produce fruit.