Wild Apple Seeds

For the Johnny Appleseed Within

This Ecos selection is a seedling strain direct from our farm of planted 'wild' apples.  These seedlings produce 1-2 inch  fruit with little or no insect damage. The exact origin comes from a mix of seedlings we found from a 'wild' russet apple found in northern Michigan as well as hybrids with the native crab called Heterophylla apple.  Fruit flavor is similar to the apple crabs and can vary from tart to sweet.  That is part of the mystery of growing your own apple from seed. 

To germinate the seed:  Plant 1/4 inch deep in sandy soil in the fall. Seedlings will emerge in early spring.  For the refrigerator method, store in lightly damp Canadian peat moss at 33-39 F for 60-120 days. Seeds will sprout after 60 days and you can remove them as they sprout and plant them in pots. It is very easy to grow apples from seed and it is a good beginner woody plant seed experiment.  Do not plant the seedling too deep when you put the sprouted seeds in a pot. The seedling will damp off easily in heavy soil mixes.