Where are all the apple trees?

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Where are all the apple trees?

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Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 17 12:49 pm Post subject: Where are all the apple trees?
Every apple tree that I know of loses quite a lot of apples to the floor where between some and many are typically left to rot, yet I cannot recall ever finding a self seeded tree anywhere. What is going on there? Is there some magic trick to making viable apple seed or getting it to germinate? If so then how did the species survive this long?

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4630
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 17 1:02 pm Post subject:
Due to several genetic bottlenecks in the last century or so, feral apples need the correct ratios of soot, diesel fumes, and dog wee in order to germinate

chickenlady

Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 413
Location: Dorset

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 17 4:44 pm Post subject:

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15986

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 17 6:36 am Post subject:
They do grow. We have two that I think are self set, wildings they are called. One isn't bad, but the other is useless. Fruit is pulpy and tasteless and no good even for jelly. We have at least one in the woods that is definitely a wilding. Nice blossom but never really seen the fruit.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 17 12:35 pm Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

They do grow. We have two that I think are self set, wildings they are called. One isn't bad, but the other is useless...

The answer to that is grafting (p'raps).

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6612
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Thu Sep 28, 17 2:53 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

Mistress Rose wrote:

They do grow. We have two that I think are self set, wildings they are called. One isn't bad, but the other is useless...

The answer to that is grafting (p'raps).

Only if you want a tree that will be as tall as that seedling would be (probably, there can be interactions between the fruitstock and rootstock) and if you're comfortable with the roll of the dice that the seedling rootstock represents in regards to disease resistance. (could be better! might not though)

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15986

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 17 5:59 am Post subject:
It is in the wrong place and so we will get round to cutting it at some point, hopefully this winter. I aim to use it for spoon making, and son may be able to do some wood turning with what I don't use. We have several other apple trees in the garden, on dwarfing root stock, so rather more manageable.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri Sep 29, 17 10:41 am Post subject:

Slim wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

Mistress Rose wrote:

They do grow. We have two that I think are self set, wildings they are called. One isn't bad, but the other is useless...

The answer to that is grafting (p'raps).

Only if you want a tree that will be as tall as that seedling would be...

I have a strategy for trees that get too tall: chop bits off them...
Obviously the flaw in that plan is that wood is such a difficult thing to dispose of...

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