Question
QUESTION: Hi,
I have an apple tree that I have been told by folks that have an orchard, is an "original Red Delicious" tree. This tree produces the best apples I have ever tasted. I have started about 4 seedlings from the seeds of apples from this tree. They have been growing in pots now for about 3 months and are about 5 or 6 inches tall. It is late August, I live in Illinois about 60 miles east of St. Louis, Mo. to give you an idea of what zone I may be in. Should I attempt to plant the seedlings anytime soon or should I wait until they are larger? If I should wait, how do I know when they are large enough and when should I plant them outside? If I should wait, how do you recommend I care for them throughout the winter? Also, I have been told that these trees will not reproduce the same type apple as the tree they came from, is this true? I have been told that I have virtually no chance of raising an apple tree from a seed and expecting any good apples, that in order to get good apples the tree must be grafted with another tree, is this so? If so, what kind of tree do you recommend and can you tell me how to go about this grafting? Would it be feasible to graft a branch or sucker from the original tree that the apple seed came from onto the seedling and help achieve getting a similiar tree?
Any and all advise will be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,
Jim

ANSWER: Hi Jim,
Thanx for your question.  If your apple tree is truly an open-pollinated or heritage type tree, then there is a good chance that it will grow true from seed.  If it is any type of hybrid or if there are other apple trees nearby, your seeds will be the result of hybridization/cross pollination and the resulting plants will not be true to the parent trees.  I am very familiar with your zone and have been there many times spring, winter and fall.  You can plant the trees out now.  In late October, give them a good mulch.  They should over winter just fine but you need to get them into the ground now, otherwise, you'll have to store them in an unheated garage once they go dormant.  If you go that route, keep them watered once a week.  If someone has told you that there is no chance the tree will reproduce the exact same type of apple then you probably have a hybrid.  It is true that most apple trees have been grafted onto a hardier root stock like some type of native crab apple (as I understand it...I am not an expert in fruit trees or grafting...).  I don't agree that you can't raise a good tasting apple tree from seed.  What the problem is, many apple trees are not very robust.  The hardy rootstock is what helps them survive harsh winters or drought or other adverse weather conditions.  When you raise plant from a hybrid seed, you most likely will experience a plant that is of inferior quality compared to the parent plants because the genetics are not stable and the progeny fall back to prior generations which means, their might be inferior qualities such as, blooming too early, not tolerating drought, not tolerating cold, not tolerating heat, fruit doesn't keep well, matures too soon, matures too late, subject to certain diseases, loses its dwarf characteristics and grows 40 feet tall!, etc.  I have a friend who has a peach tree from seed and the fruit is delicious.  Yes, you could graft a cutting from the original tree to a root stock.  You may be able to find some rootstock on line but it is usually sold in lots of 20 or 50 or something like that.  You might want to check with your local county extension agent on that.  Sometimes there are local orchards that might give you some assistance on this.  If you can give me your county, I can put you in touch with a agent that surely could put you in touch with someone in Illinois that can help you better than I can.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi and thank you for your answers!

I am going to follow your advice and plant right away. However I think I will plant two of the four just in case they don't make it outside. You said that if I don't plant I should keep the others in an unheated garage over the winter. When doing that do I need to something to protect the roots from freezing as easily since they are not in the actual ground nor are they mulched? Also, do I need to use a grow light or something to give them some light at times? I had originally thought that I would place them on the back porch, it is heated but stays cooler than the house tempuratures. There are windows on the porch that would offer some sunlight also.
You mentioned using root stock to graft, I am not sure that I understand what root stock is. Is that just another sapling growing from a seed and it already has its own roots? I have a number of suckers growing from 1 to 3 feet tall off of the base of the tree near the ground, could one of these be used to graft to? Obviously the sucker wouldn't have roots, would it start its own roots if planted?
I live in Fayette County Illinois if that will help you with these answers.

Thank you so much for your time and the service you offer!

Jim

Answer
Hi Jim,
Thanx for the additional information.  Here are my answers to your questions"

"I am going to follow your advice and plant right away. However I think I will plant two of the four just in case they don't make it outside."

Jim, I can understand not wanting to risk everything.

"You said that if I don't plant I should keep the others in an unheated garage over the winter. When doing that do I need to something to protect the roots from freezing as easily since they are not in the actual ground nor are they mulched? Also, do I need to use a grow light or something to give them some light at times? I had originally thought that I would place them on the back porch, it is heated but stays cooler than the house tempuratures. There are windows on the porch that would offer some sunlight also."

Jim, once the plant goes dormant, it won't need light until the temps start warming up.  Keep it in an unheated garage so that it does not get warm enough to stimulate it to begin leafing out again.  You want it to rest the entire winter.  You don't need to protect the roots as long as there is no cold wind blowing on it.  You'll need to water it once a week so the roots don't dry out.  Water with cold not warm water.

"You mentioned using root stock to graft, I am not sure that I understand what root stock is. Is that just another sapling growing from a seed and it already has its own roots? I have a number of suckers growing from 1 to 3 feet tall off of the base of the tree near the ground, could one of these be used to graft to? Obviously the sucker wouldn't have roots, would it start its own roots if planted?"

Jim, here's the part with which I have little experience.  Most root stocks for apple trees come from hardy, wild crab apple trees.  Professional fruit growers buy root stock from wholesalers and then graft their hybrid grafts onto the rootstock.  The way I understand it is, hybrids can be frail and not as hardy and the rootstock, strengthens them and gives them a firm, strong, hardy base from which to grow and produce.  On this part, you should contact your local county extension agent for advice and suggestions.  There may be a local orchard that would be willing to show you how to do this and provide you with resources for root stock, etc.

Here is a link to that site:

https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/cefj/fayettemg/418.html

I live in Fayette County Illinois if that will help you with these answers.

Thanx Jim and let me know how it goes.
Tom