Swiss Roots

Apple seedling transplanted in anticipation of our departure, 

one year and 13 days since the infamous snack time. 

Au revoir Petit Pommier! 

Bon courage

A Touch of Colour

It took until late December, but the seedling's leaves finally turned. They haven't yet fallen which gives us hope that we've got ourselves one hardy specimen. I wonder if it will flower in the spring? I guess we'll all just have to wait and see. 

First Snow

Never Say Die

The rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

It's not easy being green...

It's a cruel, cruel world for apple seedlings--between mold and root rot, they barely stand a chance. I'm not sure what's changed. They were doing so well. The photo above is what I believe to be our last viable specimen. Four others remain, but are rapidly wasting away. We transplanted this one today only to discover its roots, which are normally white, were turning brown. I fear it's only a matter of time. I suppose what would we have done with 24 apple trees anyway? One thing's for certain: it's a lot easier to pawn off apple trees than hamsters.

Live and learn, as they say--and learn we did!

Offshoots

A few weeks ago I was sure this day would never come: the seedlings were on their last legs--dusky and limp. I'd prepared the kids and the composter. It was just not meant to be.

But then the sun came out--and stayed. Leaves sprouted one, after the other, after the other until, low and behold, the seedlings looked almost presentable. All along the girls had planned to give 'un petit pommier' to their teachers. Now they could. They transplanted them yesterday and presented them today, the last day of school.

Au revoir P'tit Pommier!

Apple Seeds: The Road to Recovery

A big thanks to Hester Macdonald at WRS for her in-the-nick-of-time advice on saving the seedlings. Here's what she wrote:

"I can't really tell if the problem is powdery mildew or downy mildew. Both are, yes, a sort of mould. Apple Powdery mildew is quite a serious disease that starts on the stems and leaves shortly after bud burst and takes the form of a powdery white coating. You can treat it with a simple fungicide. Mildew problems are common in many seed varieties that have not been treated with an anti-mildew fungicide, and are exacerbated by very damp conditions.

"If it's downy mildew, you will see yellowish spots on the upper leaves (it's probably not this) and can be treated with a copper-based product."

The very next morning I was fungicide shopping and by noon I'd sprayed every last leaf, both top and bottom. Within hours the plants had lost their dusty pallor. Had I not forgotten them out in the pouring rain--not once, but twice--they might have been cured. Unfortunately, in a clear case of horticultural neglect, two seedlings re-entered the circle of life. There is new growth on the remaining twenty, so hope prevails.

At one point last week I warned the girls that the seedlings might not make it. Their response: "That's okay, Mommy. We can grow tomatoes instead."

Tomatoes?!

SOS: Save Our Seedlings

Something's gone wrong: the seedlings are suffering from some kind of mold. It's powdery white and covers every last leaf. In sheer desperation, I've enlisted the help of the local radio garden guru. Hopefully she'll have some advice other than for their proper disposal.

Apple Seeds: Week 14

It's hard to believe that three months have passed since we started this little experiment. Our twenty-two seedlings range from 6 to 11 centimeters tall with lots of leaves, woody stems, but, as Mighty Mouse is quick to point out, no apples. The other day I reminded her that it may take 10 years before the trees grow any fruit. "You'll be 15 by then," I said.

Her face lit up. "I'll be bigger than Emma!"

"Uh, no. She'll be 17."

Her shoulders slumped. Maybe I shouldn't have told her.

Apple Seeds: Week 10

These seedings, in their lifetime, could offset our carbon footprint by as much as 16,000kg.
Not bad, eh?

Apple Seeds: Week 8

Yesterday afternoon the seedlings got their first dose of plant food. We diluted it to half the recommended concentration just to be safe. Today every last one is sprouting new leaves.

Apple Seeds: Week 5

Seed Origin: 2 Pink Lady apples from Migro
Germination Rate: 88% (28 of 32 seeds)
Fun Factor: Great!

Apple Seeds: Week 4

It's been a week since we transplanted the 24 most hardy of our 28 seedlings. Seven days into their new homes, we've suffered only one fatality--the runt of the litter.

May he compost in peace.

Moving Day

The day was fast approaching for our unsuspecting seedlings to move house. They were sprouting their first real leaves which, according to my sources, meant it was time. I made a trip past the garden center Friday afternoon and came home all the materials required to transplant the Miller verger. What follows is either a how-to or how-not-to lesson on transplanting apple tree seedlings--only time will tell. Rest assured, I'll keep you posted.

Step 1
Place a few drainage beads at the bottom of each container.

Step 2
Moisten soil and break up any lumps. A fork works reasonably well, but the girls liked using their fingers.

Step 3
Fill individual containers with soil.

This part is messy, hence...

Step 4
Call in the clean up crew.

Step 5
Carefully unearth seedlings then bury well, covering all of the root and a portion of the stem.

Step 6
Be proud.

Apple Seeds: Week 3

Simple Pleasures: Beating the Odds

Apple seeds: Day 17

Apple Seeds

"Look at them all, Mighty Mouse! We're going to grow tons of apples."

"Yeah!"

The girls stand over a plate piled with apple seeds, ones they've dug from the cores themselves.

"Can we plant them now, Mommy?'

"Uh, I don't know." And that's the truth. I have no idea if you can just plant an apple seed. It sounds too easy. "I need to look it up."

I head to the computer and, within a few clicks, enter the world of plant propagation, a world complete with it's own vocabulary: words like rootstock, scion, hybridization and pollination are everywhere.

It would appear that modern day apples, the ones we buy at the grocery store are hybrids. This means they are the result of two or more types of trees that have been grafted together. There is only a 30% chance of a seed germinating and growing to full size, and that's assuming the seed is not sterile to begin with. Even then, there is only a 5% chance that the mature tree will bear fruit and it could take up to 10 years to find out. It is almost definitive that the apples will not resemble the fruit from which the seed came from, and, in fact, may be completely inedible. Add to this the pollination wild card (i.e. tree sex) and you've really got a crap shoot.

I never imagined I'd ever be so disillusioned by an apple seed.

"So, Mommy, can we plant them?"

"Yeah, can we?"

I look at them, their big blue eyes so hopeful. I shut down my browser and push my keyboard away. "Come on. Let's do it."