Comments on: Save Yourself the Heartache, Don’t Grow Fruit Trees from Seed http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/ Gardening Tips for Apartment and Condo Dwellers Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:13:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Trinh Nguyen http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-11400 Trinh Nguyen Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:34:00 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-11400 Your advice is very valuable. Thanks! Your advice is very valuable. Thanks!

]]> By: Maureen K Foster http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-10363 Maureen K Foster Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:13:32 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-10363 I have a wonderful Mango tree that has been producing fruit for 4 yrs. I have many seedlings that have sprung up and I was potting them, until a friend tried to explain grafting and fruit tree reproduction that left me confused. He told me they would never produce fruit. Thanks, to your article I now have a better understanding. I plan on stopping my little growing project and just enjoy the fruit. Thanks, Maureen K Foster of Melbourne Florida I have a wonderful Mango tree that has been producing fruit for 4 yrs. I have many seedlings that have sprung up and I was potting them, until a friend tried to explain grafting and fruit tree reproduction that left me confused. He told me they would never produce fruit. Thanks, to your article I now have a better understanding. I plan on stopping my little growing project and just enjoy the fruit. Thanks, Maureen K Foster of Melbourne Florida

]]> By: Fallon http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-9841 Fallon Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:30:25 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-9841 That's my long term plan. I'm going to hand polinate my bountiful apple tree and my tree grown from seed (one day in the future for my seed grown tree) then use those seeds I get to grow 2 more trees. Who knows, might get a lovely new variety. I'll name it after my daughter Savannah who loves the idea of growing a tree. :-) That’s my long term plan. I’m going to hand polinate my bountiful apple tree and my tree grown from seed (one day in the future for my seed grown tree) then use those seeds I get to grow 2 more trees. Who knows, might get a lovely new variety. I’ll name it after my daughter Savannah who loves the idea of growing a tree. :-)

]]> By: Fern http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-9775 Fern Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:54:39 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-9775 Fallon--Just like breeding animals or even making human babies, plants will have some of the characteristics of their parents. So, yes, if the seed you are growing comes from a flower that was pollinated by an apple with tasty fruit, it is more likely to be good tasting. Fallon–Just like breeding animals or even making human babies, plants will have some of the characteristics of their parents. So, yes, if the seed you are growing comes from a flower that was pollinated by an apple with tasty fruit, it is more likely to be good tasting.

]]> By: Fallon http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-9774 Fallon Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:13:36 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-9774 Hello I am growing a tree from seed at the moment but I also have a grafted Bountiful (sweet cooking variety) apple tree growing on a M27 rootstock growing in a container on my balcony. Which I'm happy to say will be fruiting in its first year of planting. There is also an apple tree that I believe was grown from seed on the field downstairs that produces lovely sweet apples. I was just wondering, if my tree that i'm growing from seed was pollinated by my grafted tree and/or the tree downstairs on the field, would that increase the chances of me getting tastier apples grown from seed? I personally think its well worth the wait. If im not successful then so be it, i've still got my bountiful apples. :-) Hello

I am growing a tree from seed at the moment but I also have a grafted Bountiful (sweet cooking variety) apple tree growing on a M27 rootstock growing in a container on my balcony. Which I’m happy to say will be fruiting in its first year of planting. There is also an apple tree that I believe was grown from seed on the field downstairs that produces lovely sweet apples. I was just wondering, if my tree that i’m growing from seed was pollinated by my grafted tree and/or the tree downstairs on the field, would that increase the chances of me getting tastier apples grown from seed? I personally think its well worth the wait. If im not successful then so be it, i’ve still got my bountiful apples. :-)

]]> By: John C http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-6343 John C Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:58:15 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-6343 Another comment about Pollenation affecting offspring... With Apples especially -- Crab apples are frequently used as Pollinators in Orchards -- because they are so good at it.... and because the Seed and fruit companies don't want you edging in on their business.... Unfortunately, those crab apple pollinators shine through loud and clear when you grow out the Supermarket seeds... and you get a GIANT tree bearing little round bitter rocks.... Same for Cherries -- where they may use Wild cherries or some sort of Bird cherry or a sour cherry as a pollinator... and you get bitter, astringent, teeny tiny cherries... Or big, watery, bland cherries.... You may have better luck if you hand-pollinated fruit from your own yard, then tagged the specific fruit for growing out... Then, at least you would know the parentage! Thanks Another comment about Pollenation affecting offspring…

With Apples especially — Crab apples are frequently used as Pollinators in Orchards — because they are so good at it…. and because the Seed and fruit companies don’t want you edging in on their business….

Unfortunately, those crab apple pollinators shine through loud and clear when you grow out the Supermarket seeds… and you get a GIANT tree bearing little round bitter rocks….

Same for Cherries — where they may use Wild cherries or some sort of Bird cherry or a sour cherry as a pollinator… and you get bitter, astringent, teeny tiny cherries… Or big, watery, bland cherries….

You may have better luck if you hand-pollinated fruit from your own yard, then tagged the specific fruit for growing out… Then, at least you would know the parentage!

Thanks

]]> By: Claire http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-5870 Claire Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:16:00 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-5870 also, regarding chill hours & apples, this is an interesting thread happening over at dave wilson: http://davewilsonforums.com/index.php/showthread.php?p=56 also, regarding chill hours & apples, this is an interesting thread happening over at dave wilson:
http://davewilsonforums.com/index.php/showthread.php?p=56

]]> By: Claire http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-5869 Claire Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:13:47 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-5869 Great post! My mom has been trying to grow fruit trees from seed for years, & I can attest to the process being both slow and sometimes unrewarding. Surprisingly, though, there have been some successes! An apricot tree she grew from a seed that came from one of my late grandfather's tree is productive & delicious, growing in poor soil on its own rootstock. Now I have a seedling of her tree growing in my own yard. If it turns out to be a total dud, I'll just graft on it, but I like the idea of the genetic line of apricot changing with each generation, so I hope that I luck out! Great post! My mom has been trying to grow fruit trees from seed for years, & I can attest to the process being both slow and sometimes unrewarding. Surprisingly, though, there have been some successes! An apricot tree she grew from a seed that came from one of my late grandfather’s tree is productive & delicious, growing in poor soil on its own rootstock. Now I have a seedling of her tree growing in my own yard. If it turns out to be a total dud, I’ll just graft on it, but I like the idea of the genetic line of apricot changing with each generation, so I hope that I luck out!

]]> By: Mary C http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-5862 Mary C Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:42:23 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-5862 This reminds me of Botany of Desire that you recommended everyone watch a few months ago! I did, and they went over the very same issue about apple trees and apple seeds. This reminds me of Botany of Desire that you recommended everyone watch a few months ago! I did, and they went over the very same issue about apple trees and apple seeds.

]]> By: diane and todd http://lifeonthebalcony.com/save-yourself-the-heartache-dont-grow-fruit-trees-from-seed/comment-page-1/#comment-5855 diane and todd Mon, 25 Jan 2010 02:47:16 +0000 http://lifeonthebalcony.com/?p=2497#comment-5855 AWESOME post Fern! As tempting as it may seem to plop a seed in the ground, there's so much more to understanding what makes fruit trees bear viable fruit. Thanks so much for sharing all that you learned in the Master Garden class! We're all benefitting from it--- big time! AWESOME post Fern! As tempting as it may seem to plop a seed in the ground, there’s so much more to understanding what makes fruit trees bear viable fruit.
Thanks so much for sharing all that you learned in the Master Garden class! We’re all benefitting from it— big time!

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