Hi Trisha-
If you search around this forum, you'll see that this question gets asked quite a bit.

Modern apple trees are not grown from seed for a couple reasons:
1.) Apples are not "true to seed"... meaning that the apple tree you get will likely be unlike the apple that it came from. Often, these trees produce apples of significantly lesser quality. (Though Harvestman was debating this point recently I believe)

2.) Modern apples are grown on dwarfing rootstocks. This allows you to have a much smaller, more manageable tree. It's not so easy to pick, prune, and spray a tree which is 35 feet tall.

3.) The modern rootstocks allow the tree to begin bearing fruit at a much younger age. Perhaps 3 or 4 years, instead of much longer.

Instead, apples are propagated by grafting a branch of a known desired type, to a rootstock with desirable traits.

But, perhaps you're really not interested growing high quality apples, but rather you're interested in a teaching lesson for your kids. If so, then go for it! In my case, I was happier doing it with sunflowers because they grow incredibly large so very quickly.

-Glenn

I have an apple I know was started by chance twenty three years ago from seed. It just started growing in an old pasture we were ready to brush hog. Since we had no trees there, we let it grow. I imagine a bird or deer dropped the seed from a tree in the ancient, abandoned orchard on the hill.

Glenn is right in that it has only really come into its own a few years ago with fruit. It's immense for a fruit tree. However, the fruit is quite good and I use it for baking and applesauce. Who knows what variety it is closest to, since its genetics are by chance. So, yes, you cn get a good quality apple by seed, but you just don't know.

I have a peach tree from seed, and it's the best peach tree I've ever had. I'm going to be taking some grafts from it as soon as I hit on some rootstock and keep that line going. But, I didn't expect it to be so good. You do win some. LOL.

Trisha:

As a project to interest and educate the children about how apple trees grow, planting seeds is fine. But as a way to grow apples, it is not, for the reasons given above. By the time you see apples on a seedling tree, whatever their quality, you will be worrying about educating your grandchildren.

Seeds taken from supermarket apples normally need a cold period to break dormancy and germinate. This can be accomplished by placing the seeds in a baggie with a barely moist paper towel and refrigerate until you see some sprouting -- anywhere from 6 weeks to a couple of months. Then place them in pots or in the ground and they should begin to grow up. The best timing would be to refrigerate the seeds in early winter, say about December.

Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA