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How to choose apple tree seedlings: advice from experienced gardeners, the best varieties
03.02.2023 01:30
Updated: 13.04.2023 20:00
For many summer residents, buying seedlings is like a lottery.
No one can be 100% sure that the seedling will take root well and that the seller at the market will not deceive.
Therefore, it is worth understanding how to choose apple tree seedlings and what parameters must be taken into account.
Which varieties to choose
The choice of apple tree variety should depend on the climate conditions and preferences of each person. For example, there are sweet, sour and other varieties. It is important to follow one rule: early, regular and late varieties of apple trees should be grown on your plot. It is better to collect apple fruits throughout the season.
What to look for when choosing seedlings
There are several important features to consider when choosing seedlings.
Manufacturer's reliability
Inexperienced gardeners often make this mistake. When visiting trading platforms, fairs or garden centers, you can meet many sellers. But who can you really trust? A seedling may seem ideal, but its germination is highly questionable. Experienced gardeners try to buy seedlings only from those they can really trust.
Local varieties
Choosing new varieties or experimenting is too risky. If you want to be sure to grow a good apple tree on your plot, it is better to choose local varieties. As practice shows, they are well adapted to a certain climate, so there should be no problems with further cultivation.
Landing time
The time of planting is of key importance. If you are considering autumn planting, the seedling should be without leaves. In spring, it is worth choosing seedlings on which the buds have not yet blossomed. Otherwise, the likelihood increases that the seedling will simply not take root in the soil or will begin to develop incorrectly.
Age
The age of the seedling can be 1 or 2 years. If you consider planting in the spring, it is better to give preference to one-year-olds. They take root faster and grow more readily. It makes sense to plant two-year-old seedlings in the fall, as they can more easily withstand harsh winter conditions.
Visual inspection
Visual inspection is key. Even when buying planting material from a trusted manufacturer, there is a chance of error. A simple example: a seedling can be damaged during transportation.
There are several recommendations for visual inspection of the seedling:
- The height of one-year-old apple trees should be up to 130 centimeters.
- If the seedling is small in size, most likely the conditions during its cultivation were violated.
- Excessive size and immature shoots may indicate that incorrect fertilizers were used.
- The cut must be juicy and light. If there are dark spots, it is better to refuse to buy.
- There should be no damage on the trunk.
- Particular attention should be paid to the root system. There should be main branches and small roots. It is not uncommon for roots to break during transportation.
- The branches should be evenly distributed along the trunk. Branches appear on two-year-old seedlings.
When choosing seedlings, you should pay attention to all the details. You can't blindly trust the seller's words and not check him. Often, seedlings get damaged, which the seller himself doesn't even know about.
