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Post by reed on Aug 22, 2014 9:48:05 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice. Never thought of being careful not to let them dry out and I have done that sometimes I'm sure. Peaches often do because I often find just the seed where deer I guess have spit it out. Peaches though are the easiest to start by the planting in the ground and waiting
method. I don't have any apple seeds this year but have some nice fresh pears seeds.
Do you think it matters if the fruit is completely ripe? The mamma trees are few and far between and not easy to get to so I have to pick when I can before critters get them all. Don't often find a super ripe one on on the ground.
If I sprout them now thought I will have seedlings with winter coming on. Can I freeze them until late winter and then try the fridge method?
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Post by copse on Aug 23, 2014 16:24:09 GMT -5
I have no research to say otherwise, but I think common sense and observation should tell you that it is not necessary for full ripeness. I'd love to see some scientific studies on this though.
Yes, peaches are obviously different to apples and pears :-) I'm not sure that viability is affected by letting apples and pear seed dry out, rather that a different approach may be required, or longer waiting and cold stratification if I recall correctly.
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Post by jondear on Sept 19, 2014 6:57:09 GMT -5
Hermit, I know it's short notice and I just came a crossed this thread but, I'll be going to the Common Ground Fair and can bring apples with me from the farm I've been working at. I'll be attending Saturday. If you let me know how to get them to you, you can recover seed from them and taste the apples.
Jon
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Post by reed on Sept 21, 2014 7:35:51 GMT -5
I've been out hiking and driving around and collected up a few of the fruits from the wild trees I'v found over the years. I call them wild because they are located in places where I'm sure no one ever planted them. I got a few pears and some of those little apple / crab apple things that taste so good. These are the ones I am most interested in but I also stopped and swiped a few of every apple and pear I saw along the road (and in yards of vacant houses and abandoned farms). I even robbed an old overgrown orchard despite the no trespassing signs. Its all smothered in wild roses, grapes and weeds so the few trees still alive and producing there must be good ones. One is a big greenish yellowish thing that is real sour, it reminds me of Jolly Rancher candy, it is soooo good.
From past experience I had about gave up on sprouting these seeds but now I have new hope. I'm going to do as some here on the forum have suggested and take them straight from the fruits into a little bed I made and cover them with boards til spring. Hopefully some will grow.
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Post by MikeH on Sept 23, 2014 8:13:59 GMT -5
My son is working on this project. We want apples only on their own rootstocks as none of the common apple rootstocks are worth a darn here. You can get drought tolerant or wet feet tolerant, but I need both, sometimes in the same year. Every tree we have ever planted that was grafted, died. Not to mention the bastard who sent me dead trees. (Wagon Wheel Orchard). Note the plug for where NOT to shop. Zack wants an apple orchard, so he's been collecting apple seeds and storing them in our fridge. Every few months he starts a tray. So far we have 5 little bitty apple trees and 1 cherry growing in a pot. I'll have to try the plastic bag and soil mix..soon as there's room in the fridge. Richard, you'll have to send apple seeds one of these days. One of these days we'll have cider.... I hope my next farm comes with an orchard. Holly, talk to Kuffel Creek - www.kuffelcreek.com/applenursery.htm. They're 350 miles south of you in Riverside, I think but they focus on drought tolerant hot weather apples. Wet feet you might have to handle with drainage. |
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