It's Really My World: October 2012

Have you ever wish to have an apple tree in your backyard? Or is there anyone wish to have an apple tree in the Tropics like Philippines? Being a tropical country is it really possible? Have you ever tried to grow apple tree from seeds collected from an apple? Well the answer is all Yes!

I still cant believe, that I actually got it to grow from the seed! Five years ago when I tried to grow and collect seeds from a grocery bought apple (fuji apple) the big, crispy juicy sweet variety. I successfully germinated the apple seed and now my 5 years old tree is growing and propagated 8 more trees through air layering. Apple trees respond well to air-layering propagation. I planted those seeds and they germinated! Apple seeds need to experience a period of cold stratification before they will germinate. They receive that naturally if it’s left up to nature, in colder place in winter season. Mature seeds sometimes dont need to be dried out before planting, I've just tried a few seeds and after some week it germinated thats become my first apple tree 5 years ago. But a few weeks ago i have germinated seed from the inside of apple fruit itself (really germinated from the core of an apple) I accomplished it by letting the fruit to stay about a week in the frige really no intention to propagated it but luckily when i checked and try to see if my apple still ok to eat, when I cut it in half the seeds already sprouting. It is germinated because of the same cold conditions for the seeds of an apple to grow.

Germinated seed from the core

Germinated seed

Gardening is one of my passion, that's why I fascinated to try to grow apples here in the Philippines, got an apple tree obsession =)

Although my infatuation in growing apples is not only for their beautiful, delicious and healthful eating properties but how i successfully grown it in the Philippines, apple trees only have one purpose in growing them: propagation. Inside the core of each apple are tiny chambers, each bearing a single apple seed. Each apple is an apple tree's latest attempt at continuing its species. Apples that fall to the ground and wither away, uneaten, eventually deposit their seeds into the ground that’s where wild apple is around in some area with winter cold climate. Apples that are eaten inevitably have their seeds discarded in other ways, through which they may also find their way to fertile soil.

I’ve heard and read that the seeds of apples harvested from hybrid apples,can not produce the same fruit. Most of the fruit you get from the super market cannot produce a new tree with the same fruit variety when planted from the seed and sometimes wont even bear fruit. Still I’m really having a great time growing apple trees that might someday produce tiny purple apples or big peach-colored fuji apples or even a red and yellow, sweet and crisp apple much better than Red Delicious and Virginia Ralls Janet where fuji was cross pollinated. It may be a small or sour dud's and very disappointing apple , or it could be the next wonder apple someday.