Re: apple trees from seed

On Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:28:08 +1000, "David Hare-Scott"
<secret@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

sherwin dubren wrote:
David Hare-Scott wrote:


There are two reasons why you might not get a tree that you like.

One is that if the original was grafted (and the seedling obviously
isn't) the different root stock may change the nature of the tree and
its hardiness, although it shouldn't have much direct effect on the
fruit. The second is that when grown from seed there is a degree of
genetic variation due to random recombination of genes from the
parents, this is more marked if the pollinator is another variety.

I would add that the odds of getting a decent apple from a planted
seed are almost too small to make it worthwhile. I have seen
figures of one in ten thousand will work.


That's interesting can you recall where you saw that?



I have five apple trees growing on my property (that I know of) that
were obviously seeded from animal droppings, each produces different
fruit in abundance but not worth eating by humans, all small,
mishapen, dry, and extremely sour fruit... but the critters definitely
enjoy partaking. I toss apple cores from perfectly good fruit off my
back deck all the time, I've seen the deer eating their prizes. I'm
positive that's how those freak apple trees come to grow on my
property, probably from someone elses cores, I haven't been here long
enough for my cores to have produced such large trees... and critters
travel long distances to forage, those apple seeds could have come
from miles away. I had a great uncle whose hobby was growing
miniature landscapes is tiny pots, some in toothpaste caps, he would
plant the seeds from fruit he bought, apple, pear, citrus, they grew
and some even produced fruit, but none one would eat. You have better
odds of winning the lottery than of planting apple trees from seed
that produces edible fruit.
.

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