The Truth About Growing Apple Trees from Store-Bought Seeds

Why Your Father and Grandfather Are Mostly Right

Apples from supermarkets are hybrids. Seeds may be sterile or produce trees with inferior, unpredictable fruit. Commercial orchards use grafted trees: desired variety (scion) on hardy rootstock.

How Grafting Works

1. Rootstock grown from seed or cutting for 1–2 years.
2. Top cut off; scion (bud or shoot) from desired variety inserted into a slit.
3. Secured with grafting tape and wax.
4. Scion grows into the tree; rootstock provides vigor and disease resistance.

Seed Role in Breeding

New varieties originate from controlled crosses (seed). Once a superior seedling is selected, it's propagated by cuttings/grafting—not by seed.

Can You Grow from Seed?

Yes, but expect a 5–7 year wait for fruit that likely won't resemble the parent. It's a fun experiment, not a reliable way to get eating apples.

For a family tree, buy a grafted sapling of a known variety suited to your zone.