Overwintering Classroom Apple Seedlings in an Alaska Root Cellar

Second-Grade Apple Project: Winter Care in a Root Cellar

Three 18-inch apple seedlings in a container can overwinter in a dark, freezing root cellar.

• No light needed during dormancy.
• Water sparingly—just enough to prevent desiccation.
• Protect from voles with wire mesh around the container.
• In early spring, add a grow light (fluorescent) before moving out.
• Transplant into ground next spring (not a bucket) for root spread.
• Tree guards essential against rabbits/voles.

By next fall, they’ll be hardy for Alaska winters. A unique class legacy!