The apple tree is now found in several thousand varieties in commercial and private cultivation worldwide. These are partly the result of natural crossings, but also through targeted breeding measures over time.
How do apple trees reproduce?
Apple trees reproduce through the pollination of apple blossoms by insects. Since most apple trees are self-sterile, they require another tree of a pollinator variety within bee or bumblebee flight range for successful fertilization and propagation.
Natural reproduction in the apple tree
The apple tree, like other fruit trees, depends on the pollination of apple blossoms by insects so that fruits are produced for harvest and thus also seeds for reproduction. Most apple trees are self-sterile, meaning that pollen from flowers on the same tree is not sufficient for successful fertilization. There must therefore be at least one other tree of a pollinator variety within the flight radius of the bees and bumblebees in order to enable pollination. When planting an apple tree in the garden, you should keep this fact in mind and, if necessary, plant several trees that complement each other.
Apple trees grown from seeds offer surprises
With an apple seedling grown from seeds, the genetic information of the fruit-bearing tree is always linked to that of the pollen donor. Since pollen selection cannot be determined precisely in the wild, surprises can arise with the first fruits and growth habit. Ungrafted apple trees can produce a good yield of large, sweet fruits, but this only becomes apparent after about seven to ten years.
Commercial cultivation relies on grafted trees
In commercial cultivation and to a large extent also in private gardens, today almost exclusively grafted apple trees are found. Nowadays these usually consist of a rootstock that grows as weakly as possible and a scion copulated on it. For propagation using the grafting method, you should, if possible, use scions cut in winter from proven varieties such as the following:
- Boskoop
- Alkmene
- Landsberger Renette
- Goldparmaene
These are better adapted to the local climatic conditions than most apple varieties available in regular grocery stores.
Tips & Tricks
It is an exciting experiment, especially for children, to grow an apple tree from a core in a pot. When planting a seedling in a pot, always ensure there is sufficient water supply.