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Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 28, 2008 19:28:04 GMT 1
A colleague of mine has managed to get her hands on an apple from 'Newton's Apple Tree'...and is wondering if she can get the pips to grow. We know that the tree's role in Newton's theory of gravity is prolly spurious...but WOW.... Were the apple trees back then grown on rootstock? and how should she go about getting the seeds to germinate? I understand that the resultant plant won't necessarily be robust or owt...but wouldn't it be fun to try.? Any advice gratefully received.  |
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Post by emseypop on Oct 28, 2008 20:15:39 GMT 1
I saw a readers letter on a monty's page in the daily mail a few weeks ago, a lady had planted 6 apple pips and had 6 saplings. Monty said although they'd grow the apples would be inedible without a certain rootstock, I dunno if I stopped reading then, or if that was all he wrote  Be interesting to see what you find out cheery.  |
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Post by madonplants on Oct 28, 2008 22:58:00 GMT 1
A colleague of mine has managed to get her hands on an apple from 'Newton's Apple Tree'...and is wondering if she can get the pips to grow. We know that the tree's role in Newton's theory of gravity is prolly spurious...but WOW.... Were the apple trees back then grown on rootstock? and how should she go about getting the seeds to germinate? I understand that the resultant plant won't necessarily be robust or owt...but wouldn't it be fun to try.? Any advice gratefully received. I've done it a few times and seems quite easy, though the resultant seedling will not be true to type, so it could end up big small, sour, sweet, but fun to try all the same. After I did my sunflower seeds as a kid, I did some apples. Soak the pips in water for 24/48 hours, then sow the ones that sink, in compost and in a propogator. I've never done it at this time of the year, but normally in early spring. As you know, with moving house a lot, never ended up bringing any with us, but maybe could give it a go again, next year. Not sure about trees in the olden days, have you tried Google? |
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Post by owdboggy on Oct 29, 2008 21:44:16 GMT 1
Desirable apple tree types have always been grafted on to rootstocks. That is the only way they can be propagated. Really speaking, there is only one Bramley apple tree, it just happens to be spread all over the world.
Even Johnny Appleseed who walked all over America planting apple pips was really only interested in producing Cider apples which sadly is what 99 percent of the time is what you get from a pip.
Scientists reckon that Malus domistica is the plant most capable of variation from seed of them all.
Having said that, my s.i.l. manged to gorw a very acceptable edible apple from a pip,so give it a whirl and wait the 5 years minimum to see what you get!
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Oct 29, 2008 22:37:53 GMT 1
Thank you for your input  I'm rather hoping to be able to wheedle a couple of pips from my friend An interesting project....and from the tree that is associated with such a great man. |
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