Experienced gardeners know that apple seedlings grown from a stone may not give the expected result. However, later they can be cultivated, using as a stock. In this article we will look at how to grow a seedling from a seed yourself and how to care for it.
Selection of seeds
For germination, it is recommended to pick up seeds of varieties that are unpretentious in their care, resistant to diseases and to harsh climatic conditions. Not the fact that the seedling inherits their characteristics, but there is a chance. 
Planting material should be externally without damage, evenly painted, not chipped, dense, filled to the touch. Bones should be taken from a ripe, even preferably overripe fruit.
Did you know? In ancient Greece, the apple was considered the sacred fruit of Apollo, by the way, the English version of the word "apple", formed on behalf of the sun god.
Seed preparation
Seeds need to be properly prepared, because by themselves they do not bite. Preparation takes place in several stages.
Washing
The material is soaked in warm water and stirred for several minutes, then the water is drained through a fine sieve.
The procedure is needed to remove some kind of protective sheath - an inhibitor that protects the seed from untimely germination. 
Soak
The second procedure aimed at softening the seed is soaking. For about four days, the bones are left in the water, in a warm place. In the last days of soaking add growth stimulant.
Check out the most popular varieties of apple trees: Bellefle Chinese, Veteran, Legend, Triumph, Cowberry, Gala, Florin, Gift to Gardeners, Anis, Golden Delicious , "Solntsedar", "Jonagold", "Arkadik", "Wonderful", "Jung", "Starkrimson", "Ola" and "Idared".
Stratification
The last stage of seed preparation for the natural conditions of winter is stratification. The material is placed in a small container, sprinkled with sand, activated carbon powder, well moistened. Container put for a period of about three months on the door of the refrigerator or in the box for vegetables.
Video: how seed stratification occurs
Sowing
At the bottom of the box put drainage (small pebbles), the most suitable soil for germination - nutritious chernozem. Each bone is deepened one and a half centimeters into the soil, the distance between them is up to two and a half centimeters. Moisturize the soil, it is better to spray out, so as not to erode the soil.
In the presence of two pairs of leaves, seedlings inspect and remove the weakest and having obvious signs of "wild": too bright foliage and the presence of thorns.
Video: how to transplant a seed in the ground
Important! The first year of life, the first winter, the sapling should be supervised either in the house or on the street in the greenhouse. It should be protected from the cold until it gets stronger.
Planting seedlings
In the open ground grown trees are planted until the end of May. For a permanent place pick up the area, open to the sun, but closed to drafts. It is not recommended to place them in the shade of adult trees. The location of groundwater should be at least two meters from the surface.
A well for planting is prepared for several weeks in dimensions of 50x50x70 cm (the last value is depth). If the soil on the site is heavy, a good layer of drainage is put on the bottom of the hole. To support the young tree will need a support in the form of a peg. 
The technology of planting apple seedlings in the ground. Then, garden soil mixed with fertilizer (peat 20 kg, 200 g of wood ash, sulfuric potassium and superphosphate) is poured into the hole, forming a hillock on top, driving a peg prepared for the support.
During planting, the sapling is spread on its roots on an earthen hill, sprinkled with soil and tied to a support. This is followed by a plentiful, five buckets on a tree, watering.
Important! Note, the root collar, after the watered earth has settled, should be above the ground surface.
The evaporation of moisture will keep the mulch in the circle, and in a week it will take another watering.
Care
Care seed seedling requires special attention, it is in the same procedures as for adult trees.
Watering
In the first year, watering is carried out every ten days, pouring up to three buckets of water under one tree. In the second year after planting, watering is reduced to three times, the amount of water is increased to five buckets. Older trees are watered two or three times per season, focusing on precipitation. 
Top dressing
Fertilizers were planted during planting, so you do not need to feed an apple tree in the first year. Heavy organic matter, such as dung, is not desirable for young plants, it can burn the roots. To build green mass in the early years, you can use the infusion of humus.
At the end of the summer potash phosphate fertilizers are applied in small quantities.
Further, as they grow up, they feed up three or four times per season:
- after winter for greens (nitric);
- during flowering (potash-phosphorus),
- during fruiting (potash-phosphorus).
Pruning
After planting, the central shoot is shortened by two to three buds to stimulate the growth of the lateral branches. Further, the haircut is carried out as needed.
Read more about the autumn and spring pruning, also read how to properly prune old apple trees.
Sanitary
The procedure involves the removal of all dry, cracked, damaged, or frozen branches during the winter.
Formative
The procedure gives the tree the correct shape, forms the skeleton and is the key to successful development. Here young shoots that compete with the central shoot, branches growing inside the crown and thereby thickening it are removed. 
Rejuvenating
Remove incorrectly growing, intertwined branches that begin to shrink are cut at the trunk. They thin out the crown and remove the branches, on which there are few strong lateral shoots. Remove old, no-runner shoots for the sake of young branches. 
Did you know? The oldest apple tree in the world was planted in the United States in 1647, the tree still brings harvest.
Pests and diseases
Fruit plants are a tasty morsel for various insects, in addition, they can be affected by fungal and viral diseases. Fortunately, you can prevent the emergence of those and others, you can deal with the scourge with the help of modern drugs and popular methods.
Diseases
Among the diseases of apple trees are the following:
- scab (affects almost all parts of the tree, black dense spots appear). They fight with scab with the help of Zircon and Spore;
- powdery mildew (affects the whole tree, forming a white sticky plaque on its parts). Methods of struggle - drugs "Skor", "Topaz";
- fruit rot (fruits begin to rot and crumble). The drug "Hom" copes with fruit rot;
- common apple crab (cracks and stains bark, dries, the tree dies). When fighting cancer, remove all parts damaged by the fungus, and treat the remaining parts with copper sulphate.
Every gardener wants to provide himself with tasty apples for the years ahead, which is why caring for an apple tree throughout its life is very important. Learn: how to make an apple tree bear fruit, than to spray an apple tree from pests, and also how to cover an apple tree for winter from frost and protect it from hares.
Prevention is:
- thorough cleaning in the wheel;
- moderate watering without excess moisture;
- not allowing thickening of the crown;
- timely destruction of insect vectors;
- preventive spraying with copper preparations and fungicides.
Pests
Of the most common apple pests, the following are the most dangerous:
- aphid (sucks juices from green mass);
- moth caterpillar (damages foliage and young shoots, ovaries);
- apple moth (destroys the kidneys);
- leafworm (kills buds and ovaries of buds).
We recommend that you read what aphid is dangerous on fruit trees and what to do if it appeared on an apple tree, as well as how to deal with the leafworm.
In the spring, as a preventive measure for aphids, the apple orchard is treated with 3% malathion before blooming of buds. Aktara, Fosfomid will help to destroy the cows. Sprays of chlorophos or metaphos help from the moth.
It is possible to get rid of the damaging kidney of the moth and leaflet by spraying: before the buds are dissolved with a solution of nitrafen 3%, when the buds are dissolved - with a solution of solone 2%. 
To summarize: it is possible to grow a tree from a stone, you just need to follow the rules. From the further care of germinated seedlings will depend on its development and fruiting. Attention and care will soon bear fruit in the truest sense of the word.
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