Use this simple tutorial to grow an apple tree using the seeds found in fruit from the grocery store. It’s an excellent beginner project for anyone wanting to try simple plant propagation. This same method works for pears as well.
Want to turn other food into plants? See How to Grow Avocado From Seed.
Grow Your Own Apple Tree
Of all the ways we can encourage a love of plants, nature, and gardening, it seems that starting something quite prolific from seed—like an oak tree from an acorn or an apple tree from seed—are sure ways to create a lifelong interest in growing. And how cool is it that you take the seeds from fruit you’re eating and grow them into fruit-bearing trees?
Contents
Before You Start
Before we dive into the step-by-step instructions there are a few things to know.
- For seeds to be viable (able to grow), they need to be mature. An apple you buy at the grocery store is very likely mature but an apple picked from a tree part way through the growing season will not have fully-formed seeds. So start with mature, ripe fruit.
- Apple seeds, along with other fruit seeds including pear, peach, and cherry, require stratification (cold, damp conditions) to prepare for germination. The amount of time required to stratify varies depending on the variety. It’s generally between 60 and 90 days. The instructions (below) show you how to mimic stratification.
- Not all apple seeds will sprout. Even if you do everything right, some types never sprout, and for those that do, only half may germinate. It varies a lot. So, increase your odds by starting a bunch, preferably from several different types of apples.
- You won’t get McIntosh apples from McIntosh seeds. Or any other variety (with a few exceptions*). If your apple seeds do grow to become fruit-bearing trees, the apples produced will not be same as the ones you started with. Most apple trees require cross-pollination from another apple tree so any apples produced will have genes from both (the tree you grew and the pollinator tree) and, similarly, no two seeds will produce genetically-identical trees. In other words: every seed has a different combination of genes. That’s why plant breeders who want specific cultivars do not grow their trees from seed but instead propagate vegetatively, taking stems and grafting them onto other established rootstock, to grow genetically identical apples. *Antonovka seeds are one example of apple seeds that reproduce true to parent.
Personally, I love experimenting with seed starting, watching things grow, and propagating plants from food scraps is a favorite rabbit hole to explore.
And, what a wonderful thing for a child (or anyone) to grow something from a simple seed and nurture it for years to come.
How to Sprout Apple Seeds
This is how to germinate apple seeds. You can follow the same steps to sprout pear seeds as well.
Get Seeds Ready
Some apples have many seeds, some have few, others have none or just little white cases where you’d expect to find seeds. Pay attention to store bought apples like McIntosh, Delicious, Granny Smith, Sparta, Fuji, Gala, and so on, and, as you eat them, look for fully formed (dark brown) seeds.
It’s best to start quite a few (10-20) from different types of apples to increase your odds. If you do, be sure to keep each type separate and labelled so you know what worked.
Start with a ripe apple (one you would eat) to ensure the seeds inside are mature. Cut around the core to avoid damaging any of the seeds with your knife.
I like to take clear, close up pictures at this point so I have something to compare with later on.
Ever Find Sprouted Seeds In Your Apple?
When fruits become over-ripe, the hormones that control seed dormancy decline and the seeds within the fruit can actually start sprouting. This is called vivipary (“live birth”). If you ever find germinated seeds in your apple, sow them! And thank them for making propagation so easy.
Sand Seed Coats
Next, to help the process along, you can very gently soften the seed coat. This is a method called scarification. I do this by folding a small piece of sandpaper with the right (rough) sides together. Insert one seed at a time and gently sand off a little bit of the coat by rolling everything between your fingers. Easy does it: you don’t want to expose the embryo inside.
Soak in Moist Paper Towel
Once sanded, spread your seeds out on a moist (not dry, not soaking wet) paper towel (or a dish cloth), fold it up, and place everything in a food storage container or plastic food bag.
You may see other methods where the seeds are placed in moist potting mix instead of paper towel. I prefer paper towel because it makes it easy to check on the seeds and see any sign of sprouting without having to dig them out and rinse them off.
Chill in Fridge
Add a tag or write on tape or with waterproof marker noting the seed name (McIntosh, Delicious, Granny Smith…) and the date.
Place in refrigerator and set a reminder on your phone to check on the seeds weekly.
Most fridges run around 35 to 38°F (1.7 to 3.3°C) and apple seeds do best around 40°F (4.4°C). With the insulation provided by the container and paper towel, our seeds in the fridge will do fine.
How long does it take for apple seeds to germinate?
Depending on the variety, they may need 60 to 90 days of moist and cold conditions to germinate. Never allow the paper towel to dry out or become waterlogged: just add moisture as needed.
When they have sprouted, they are ready for sowing.
If they haven’t sprouted after 90 days in the fridge, try setting the container on your countertop at room temperature and give them another few weeks. I’ve had some sprout this late, right when I was going to give up.
Planting Sprouted Apple Seeds
I’ve sprouted my apple seeds, now what?
While you could plant your apple tree seedling right in the garden (in spring or summer), it will be much easier to protect and care for it if you grow it in a container for as long as possible.
Start with a 4 to 6-inch wide (and deep) plastic flower pot with drainage holes and use organic potting mix.
This larger pot (in the photo, below) has seven apple tree seedlings. Once they get a bit bigger (about 6 to 8-inches tall), they should be transplanted into their own containers to avoid getting the roots tangled.
Winter Care
Like any potted tree, if you are growing your apple tree seedling in a container in a cold climate you will need some winter protection.
Apple trees are cold hardy but you can’t let their roots freeze. For an established plant in the ground, this is not a worry beause the soil provides natural insulation. Container plants require extra care.
This describes the overwintering process for potted trees in detail.
Generally, you want to keep the plant watered until just before frosts begin. From there, it’s best to keep your little apple tree in a sheltered location where temperatures stay just above freezing.
I overwinter potted trees in an unheated garage with a few inches of straw over the soil and plant to retain some warmth, safe from nibbling animals as well as winds which can dry the plant out.
Set a reminder on your phone to check on things every month or so. You will need to water the potting mix if it is getting dry.
Come spring, at last frost, you will gradually reintroduce the plant to outdoor growing conditions over the period of a week or two.
At some point, if your little tree is successful, you’ll want to find a suitable location in the ground with room to mature.
Frequently-Asked Questions
When Will My Apple Tree Produce Fruit?
With optimum growing conditions, it may take 7 to 10 years for the tree to flower and fruit—if it will do this at all. Some apple trees grown from seed will never fruit.
We grow from seed for fun but buy grafted apple trees if we want a tree that will provide a specific type of apple.
The whole topic of pollination is worth researching if you do get this far. If you want a chance of pollination (leading to fruit), there will need to be other apple trees nearby for cross-pollination.
Also, some types of apple tree including Jonagold and Gravenstein have sterile pollen and require pollen from two other trees for fertilization to take place. These are called ‘triploids’. So much to know!
Apple Tree Pollinators
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are the most common pollinators for apple trees, along with orchard mason bees (Osmia lignaria), and (in much smaller numbers) bumblebee queens (Bombus genus). You may also notice that each variety of apple tree has its own time to flower from late winter to late spring. Fruit trees that flower at the same time are called ‘pollinator partners’.
Are Apple Seeds Toxic?
Apple seeds do contain cyanogenic glycoside, a cyanide-based compound. But it would take a very large dose to harm someone. That’s why it’s not an issue when we accidentally swallow seeds when eating apples. There are no cases of apple seed poisoning on record.
Can I Grow An Apple Tree Indoors?
It would be fun but no, not under normal household conditions. These are cold-hardy trees needing four seasons to flourish.
More Tutorials
- How to Grow Citrus Fruits from Seed (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit…)
- How to Grow Peach or Plum Trees from Seed
- How to Grow Avocado from Seed
I hope you’ll give this a try and be sure to sign up for the free Empress of Dirt Newsletter for new growing tips and creative garden ideas.
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
How to Grow an Apple Tree From Seed (Tutorial)
Supplies & Materials
- 1 Apple with seeds
Instructions
- Remove seeds from apple without damaging their coats.1 Apple
- Gently rub each seed between pieces of sandpaper to sand their coats very lightly. This is called ‘scarification’.
- Place seeds in moist (not damp or dry) paper towel, spacing them at least ½-inch apart. Take a photo of your seeds.
- Label plastic food container or bag and place folded paper towel with seeds inside.
- Keep in fridge. Best temperature for the seeds is 40°F (4°C).
- Check seeds weekly and re-moisten paper towel as needed.
- When sprouted, sow seeds in flower pots with potting mix just deep enough to cover them.
- Grow on a sunny window sill or outdoors when risk of frost has passed.
Notes
Kitchen Propagation Handbook
7 Fruits & Vegetables To Regrow As Houseplants
by Melissa J. Will
Learn how to grow houseplants from avocado, oranges, lemons, ginger, and more using leftover pits, seeds, and roots.
This ebook is a digital file (PDF format) you save to your device. It is not a physical product.
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Moses says
That’s helping
Njoku Okechukwu Valentine says
Awesome article packed with great information. I had germinated apple seed before but it did not survive. I am going to try again using your methods.
Thanks for the time to write and share your experience.
Thanks
Victoria Ueland says
My grandson planted a seed from the red delicious it grew and got too big for the pot. So, we planted it in our yard near our other apple trees. This year much to our Suprise it grew apples. Sadley it is now September, and they are still tiny I think they are probably crab apples is that likely? I bite one open and the flesh is yellow.
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Victoria, Sounds very interesting! Historically, Delicious apples have yellow flesh. But, as with many apples, you don’t get a true version by growing from seed. If I had your tree, I’d keep it to see what happens each year. It’s one of a kind!
Amina says
Thank you so much! I’ve been gardening all summer long with my kids and my (now) preschool daughter has been growing her flowers. For September the preschool theme is apples and we live in the town where Johnny Appleseed is buried (Fort Wayne, IN) so apples (and him) are a big deal here. Instead of just doing cutouts planting her apple seed and checking on it in the refrigerator after “ABC” time would be so much more gratifying and memorable.
Melissa J. Will says
Perfect!
Kay Pritchard says
best instructions of all the ones I have read … you have made me ready to go … for a mango tree… do u have instructions for lemon trees ?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Kay,
Yes – here you go: https://empressofdirt.net/grow-citrus-seed/
The instructions are the same for all citrus fruits so there’s lots of options!
Chris says
Hello!
I’ve gone through and scarified about 30 apple seeds and am hoping to get a few trees going, but I have a few questions. It seems that the damp paper towel I’m using to keep the seeds moist is getting moldy, along with the seeds. Is this normal or should I swap out the towel and try to clean the mold off the seeds?
Also, after only a few weeks it seems some of the seeds have small sprouts starting to form, like the first picture in the “How long does it take for apple seeds to germinate?” section. Should I wait for the sprouts to be long and curly like in the second picture in that same section before planting or should I plant the seeds as soon as they sprout?
Thanks!
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Chris,
Sounds like you’re doing a good job. There are countless types of mold but in this instance it may just be a harmless one that appears with a bit too much moisture. Switch to fresh paper towel when this happens. The seedlings should be fine.
There’s no best answer about when to plant the seedlings. I tend to let the roots get a bit bigger before planting but that’s just my preference. You can do it any time. There is no guessing which seedlings will survive or why. I hope it continues to go well for you!
Allison Baddeley says
Hi I followed your instructions to germinate apple seeds and it worked to germinate! But I have a few questions for the care of the seeds after they have been potted. How often and how much water should the seeds get and what kind of conditions should the potted seeds be in (should it be hot or cold, dry or humid conditions). Thank you for this blog it was very helpful!
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Allison,
Have a look at my reply to Sheri—it explains more. Basically, you get the seedling (gradually) accustomed to your outdoor growing conditions and then treat it as you would any apple tree in your area. Seedlings, of course, always get special attention to be sure they are kept watered and never dry out.
If you’re growing in containers, make sure the pot is watered deeply in fall and not allowed to freeze in the winter while the plant is dormant.
Some resources on this site:
How to harden off seedlings: https://empressofdirt.net/prepare-seedlings-transplanting/
HOw to overwinter potted fruit trees: https://empressofdirt.net/what-is-overwintering/
Sheri Shortridge says
I’m wondering how to keep the trees alive and growing, I’ve had success planting and growing them to about 4 leaves, then they die. So sad! Is it too warm? Wondered if it was because I didn’t freeze the seeds first. Most of them already had roots when I planted them.
Thanks for your help!
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Sheri,
I have not written a guide covering the next steps but in general, you get the seedlings acclimatized to outdoor weather (if they aren’t already) and care for them like any young plants, ensuring they are kept watered, are placed in adequate sun, and never dry out.
The fact that they sprouted is good. Whether or not the lack of pre-chilling could affect growth quality–I do not know.
To carry on, whether you grow the seedling(s) in large pots or in the ground, they should be treated like any other apple tree in your area.
Also, it’s to be expected that some will die off—I find it’s normal for just about any fruit growing from seed—you need to start a bunch to end up with a few.
Keep growing!
Tara says
Hi! My daughter found a germinating seed in her apple and we put it in a moist paper towel, like above. However, it did not “sprout” like the above picture with the long root, but it had a tiny root/stem, like less than a centimeter, and immediately grew tiny leaves. The whole thing is maybe 1-2 inches long now but doesn’t seem to be growing any more, but not dying either. Is this a seedling we can transplant?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Tara, When a seed sprouts in a fruit it’s called “vivipary” and it’s very cool! Unfortunately there is no way of knowing if any sprouted seed will survive. What we do know is the seed should remain in contact with moisture—if it dries out, the seedling will die. You can either sit the sprout in moist paper towel (moist, not dripping wet) for a while longer or try planting it in moist potting mix. Just make sure it doesn’t dry out or get too wet. Good luck! I hope it keeps growing.
Kelly S says
Hi! I just found your blog & so happy that I have! I can’t wait to dig in deeper. I am pretty new to gardening & am trying to take in all I can! So much to learn. I’m finding your page very friendly to a newbie like me. I also signed up for your newsletter. One question I do have… I saved some apple seeds from several different varieties at Thanksgiving while cutting for pies. I wrapped them in paper towels, labeled them & stored them in a cool, dry place. Will I still be able to use these seeds or do they need to be fresh from the apple? Thanks for your help!
Kelly S says
Edited to add the 5 stars I missed on my original comment. 😊
Melissa J. Will says
Great question! Seeds are most viable the fresher they are but you have bought them time by storing them in a cool, dry place. Do try germinating them—it’s likely they will sprout.
Charlene Rogers says
Hello! I was delightfully surprised when eating a few handpicked honey crisp and pink lady apples purchased at the grocery store, to find MANY seeds had sprouted. I got them to grow a little, put them in moist paper towel. I wasn’t sure what to do from here, but you’ve helped a lot! Going to plant them all up and hopefully have a bunch of new apple trees by the spring! I do understand it won’t be the same type of apple, but I’m hoping they will cross pollinate with some of the apple trees growing around my property and become a delicious treat! Apples are my favorite, but I am pretty picky 😅..
Thanks for all the advice!
Kirk Graff says
Dear Empress, we live in the Caribbean and our apples come from Michigan. This batch were Gala. When opening one I noticed the seeds had sprouted. I have never seen this and I’m from Michigan with apples my favorite fruit. So I planted the entire core in a 10” pot in a layered mix of sand and potting soil. They are now 3 inches tall and there’s are 5 in a tight clump. Eventually I will have to prune but my joy in seeing them prevents me for now. I have no dreams of apples as we never get below 70f and without other apple trees, or bees for that matter, it would be a true miracle. BUT, I’m wondering how they/it will do as just a decorative tree here. Barring a hurricane from blowing it away. Any thoughts?
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Kirk,
This is fun! When seeds sprout within fruit, it’s called vivipary or pregermination. It can happen in all sorts of fruits, especially tomatoes. Your apple seems determined to live one! It’s rather cool and freaky all at once.
Some apple trees can grow in tropical conditions but I don’t think Gala is on the list. That said, I hope you’ll keep growing yours. I’ve had so many plants defy the “rules” over the years that I can never say never. I’d keep it in a pot so you can control it’s conditions better than if it was in the ground. If you can keep it shaded when the sun is hot, you might just be able to convince it to live for some time. The fact that five are clumped together is another obstacle. You’ll just have to use your judgement on this. The crowding isn’t great but separating them may cause damage too. Good luck and let me know how it goes.
Amy says
I’m delighted to have found your blog! So many great ideas and resources in simple-to-understand language. Well done! I’ve been enjoying the podcast, as well.
Question: how do you include the adorable little bits of animation in your blog posts?
Thanks again!
Amy
Melissa J. Will says
Hi Amy,
The ‘animations’ are made using CSS (to avoid weighing down the site).
All credit goes to my brilliant web designer Alice Priestley.
This shares more about creating this site (and where to reach her): https://empressofdirt.net/alice-priestley-web-designer/