How to Grow Honey Crisp Apples From Seeds
The Honeycrisp apple, a cross between the Macoun and the Honeygold, was created by the University of Minnesota's apple breeding program in 1960. Honeycrisps are revered for their long storage life, a combination of juiciness, crispness and sweet-tart taste. They are hardy to the USDA Zone 4 and can withstand temperatures of minus 25 to 30 degrees F. Germinating honeycrisp apple seeds can be challenging, but with a little careful preparation and some time, you can easily start your own orchard. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Honeycrisp apples
- Paper towels
- Lidded container
- Peat moss and sand
- Wire mesh or screen
- Sprayer bottle
- Garden hoe
- Shovel
- Sand
Instructions
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Collect honeycrisp apples in the fall, remove the seeds and rinse them in warm water. Then lay them on paper towels to dry.
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2
Place the apple seeds into a lidded plastic or glass ontainer such as a mason jar. Set the container with the seeds in a cool location until late winter, around the middle of January.
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Mix together ½ cup of moistened peat moss and sand and place the mixture into the lidded container. Scatter the honeycrips apple seeds on to the mixture. Put the lid on the container and seal it closed. Gently shake the container to distribute the seeds.
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Put the container in a location with consistent temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees F. Leave the container with the honeycrips apple seeds in the cold location for 70 days. Mist sand and peat moss mixture with water often enough to keep it moist but not soaked.
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5
Remove the honeycrisp apple seeds from the cold storage after the 70 days has passed and plant them outside.
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Cultivate and hoe the planting area. Remove any weeds, sticks or rocks from the planting area. Turn over the soil 6 to 8 inches deep. Mix into the soil 2 to 3 inches of rotted manure, compost or leaf mold.
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Create rows in the planting area. Space each row 18 to 24 inches apart. The length of each row depends on how much room is in your planting area.
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Poke holes 1 to 2 inches deep in each row spaced 12 to 16 inches apart. Plant one or two honeycrisp apple seeds in each hole. Press them into the soil using your fingers and cover up the seeds with ½ inch of soil.
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Cover up the rows with 1 to 2 inches of sand, as sand helps germinate the honeycrisp apple seeds.
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Cover the entire area with either wire mesh or screen so squirrels or other animal do not eat the apple seeds. Make sure the area is well covered with screen. Keep the seed bed moist, sprinkling with water as needed. Germination for honeycrisp apple seeds typically takes between five and seven weeks depending on weather and growing conditions. Remove the wire mesh or screen as soon as you see the honeycrisp apple seeds emerging.
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Tips & Warnings
Penn State University recommends fertilizing the honeycrisp apple seedlings when they have grown to 6 to 8 inches tall. Spread 1 to 2 tbsp. of urea-based fertilizer around each honeycrisp apple seedling. Keep the fertilizer at least 3 inches away from each seedling.
