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#1
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Apple tree problems
Hi all,
Have a very mature(probably 25ft tall and 15ft across) Granny Smith tree in the backyard that is being slowly devoured by borers. They are leaving the sapwood and an outer shell, strong enough to keep teh tree upright and alive. Now, the tree fruited this year, but dropped the fruit after a few weeks, probably due to stress. I know the tree is history, so what is the best way to go about growing another tree from the seeds? Or should I graft? This tree, according to the neighbours(only owned the place 18 months) produces really good apples and lots of them, so I would like to try and grow another. Regards, Andrew. |
#2
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Apple tree problems
Hello Andrew.
Growing another from seed may not produce the same results that the original tree did, but you should get something as good as granny smith apples (I dont like them unless we are making an apple pie). Save some seeds and apple scraps from your harvest. Dump them inot a pile and cover them with about an inch of dirt. Protect the pile from what ever might dig around in it, until spring. At that time you should have trees coming up. Then transplant them where ever you want them to grow and water them as needed. I have done that with pears and it worked very well. You can also let the seeds dry out after washing them off and saving them until about 3 months before spring. Then put them into a small plastic bag with some moist dirt. Lay them in the bottom drawer of your refrigerator and check every 30 days. Usually after 60 days you will find that they have sprouted. When that happens, plant them with the white root down and water them as needed. I potted mine and then transplanted them in the spring. If you want to do it that way, you can start the seeds in the refrigerator any time. I have done that with Fuji and New Zealand Rose apples and have one of each growing in my yard. Have fun. Dwayne "Andrew Puddifer" wrote in message ... Hi all, Have a very mature(probably 25ft tall and 15ft across) Granny Smith tree in the backyard that is being slowly devoured by borers. They are leaving the sapwood and an outer shell, strong enough to keep teh tree upright and alive. Now, the tree fruited this year, but dropped the fruit after a few weeks, probably due to stress. I know the tree is history, so what is the best way to go about growing another tree from the seeds? Or should I graft? This tree, according to the neighbours(only owned the place 18 months) produces really good apples and lots of them, so I would like to try and grow another. Regards, Andrew. |
#3
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Apple tree problems
Thanks for the information Dwayne.
Regards, Andrew. Dwayne wrote: Hello Andrew. Growing another from seed may not produce the same results that the original tree did, but you should get something as good as granny smith apples (I dont like them unless we are making an apple pie). Save some seeds and apple scraps from your harvest. Dump them inot a pile and cover them with about an inch of dirt. Protect the pile from what ever might dig around in it, until spring. At that time you should have trees coming up. Then transplant them where ever you want them to grow and water them as needed. I have done that with pears and it worked very well. You can also let the seeds dry out after washing them off and saving them until about 3 months before spring. Then put them into a small plastic bag with some moist dirt. Lay them in the bottom drawer of your refrigerator and check every 30 days. Usually after 60 days you will find that they have sprouted. When that happens, plant them with the white root down and water them as needed. I potted mine and then transplanted them in the spring. If you want to do it that way, you can start the seeds in the refrigerator any time. I have done that with Fuji and New Zealand Rose apples and have one of each growing in my yard. Have fun. Dwayne |
#4
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Apple tree problems
Andrew Puddifer writes:
Have a very mature(probably 25ft tall and 15ft across) Granny Smith tree in the backyard that is being slowly devoured by borers. I'm surprised that you didn't ask how to go about treating the borers? Anyway, it could be that the borers have moved in because the tree is on the way out for other reasons, rather than them being the actual cause of its destruction. I know the tree is history, so what is the best way to go about growing another tree from the seeds? Or should I graft? Well, grafting is going to get you fruit a lot sooner than growing from seed! But why not try it anyway, rather than have all your eggs in one basket. There is also another method, it involves scratching or scoring a suitable branch and encasing the wound in a bundle of sphagnum moss wrapped up in plastic. The site of the wound develops roots, and after a year or so you can cut that branch off the tree and plant it as a new specimen. That's all I know, and I don't know what the likely success is with apple trees, but it will give you a start for a web search. There is also "layering" which IIRC could be carried out by raising a tub of good potting mix on a secure stand tall enough so you can bend a supple branch/twig down and securely bury its central length in the soil. After a year or so the buried part develops roots. You wouldn't want to let the mix dry out, I'd say, so not as "set and forget" as the above. To other readers: please add any personal experiences of either of these methods of tree propagation, as I'm also keen to learn more. -- John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup) |
#5
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Apple tree problems
Thanks for that information John. I am not too concerned about
treating the borers at the moment, as I know the tree is not going to survive(it is hollow). I know where the borers are at the moment, so when the time comes, I can find them. There are a few other tasty trees nearby I am sure they would love to move in on, so I don't want to disturb them till I get another tree going. However, if you know a really good way to treat them, let me know! Regards, Andrew. John Savage wrote: I'm surprised that you didn't ask how to go about treating the borers? Anyway, it could be that the borers have moved in because the tree is on the way out for other reasons, rather than them being the actual cause of its destruction. Well, grafting is going to get you fruit a lot sooner than growing from seed! But why not try it anyway, rather than have all your eggs in one basket. There is also another method, it involves scratching or scoring a suitable branch and encasing the wound in a bundle of sphagnum moss wrapped up in plastic. The site of the wound develops roots, and after a year or so you can cut that branch off the tree and plant it as a new specimen. That's all I know, and I don't know what the likely success is with apple trees, but it will give you a start for a web search. There is also "layering" which IIRC could be carried out by raising a tub of good potting mix on a secure stand tall enough so you can bend a supple branch/twig down and securely bury its central length in the soil. After a year or so the buried part develops roots. You wouldn't want to let the mix dry out, I'd say, so not as "set and forget" as the above. To other readers: please add any personal experiences of either of these methods of tree propagation, as I'm also keen to learn more. -- John Savage (news address invalid; keep news replies in newsgroup) |
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