I think you should try somehow to get scion wood to graft onto the trees or the apples will likely not be very appealing to the palate. Only the rare self fertile variety (Gravenstein) has a decent chance of producing fruit anything like the parent.

Northern Spy is a variety that has been used in Africa, partially because the wood naturally roots so you can propagate it directly and get good fruit.

I believe the leaves must be stripped annually, probably a couple weeks before the years shortest day, to create false dormancy.

Apples carry a lot of genes. It is statistically rare to get a good mix of genes in planted seeds. So better to plant the seeds then graft to the small tree. You can graft only a portion of the tree if you want t o try the seeds genetic fruit, but by grafting you are more likely to get good fruit. If you can grow great apples there and pick them only when fully ripe, you will be the king of that place.

FYI - This website has info about growing apples in the tropics.

Here is a link that might be useful: apples in the tropics

Wish I could grow bananas in the yard in Arkansas...year round to fruiting :)

-In woody perennial plants, the length of the juvenile period is influenced by environment16 and is inversely correlated with vigor. Accordingly, environmental conditions that reduce vigorous growth, such as mineral deficiency, low light, water stress, defoliation or cold stress, tend to delay the transition from the juvenile to adult phase, whereas the conditions that allow for vigorous growth can shorten the period of juvenility. In apple (Malus ÃÂ domestica), where field-grown seedlings typically do not flower until they are at least 5 years old, plants can be promoted to the adult reproductive phase after as little as 10 months under optimal growth conditions. Growing the seedling as fast and vigorously as possible. This can best be achieved by avoiding any check to growth in the early stages of development and, where this is not possible, to keep disturbance to a minimum.-
Well I donâÂÂt have a greenhouse so I will have to grow the seedlings outdoors. It was also suggested that growing apple seedlings under a 16hr day light schedule also helps decrease the jeuvinile phase, well thatâÂÂs not an option for me. But With the tropic climate here I am hoping that the year round unchecked growth that can be achieved with irrigation will be a plus to give me that first year height 2 Meters and above. Evaluating the juvenile phase of seedlings, Zimmerman (1973) found that the lowest bud of a seedling which may be an indicator of the point of transition to the adult phase occurred at a height of 1.8-2m on greenhouse plants in crab apple. I am hoping this will be the case with my seedlings ( wishful thinking I guess but I wonâÂÂt know if I donâÂÂt try) grown in pots outside. This will be challenging I know but I am going to give it a go. Growing them in pots will allow me to move the plants around to take advantage of the prime spots as the sun move across the sky throughout the year and to give them shelter from storms.
I am still researching fertilization and will welcome suggestions.
My soil mix will include coconut choir, sand, bio char, agro-lime and homemade compost. Not the best of materials but they are local and practically free. Still working on a good ratio. Will post it up at a later date. My biggest challenge I believe is irrigation as potted plant do need more attention as far as water is concern. And the pots being outdoors call for more water than indoor plants. May have to use a size bigger pot as that would allow for mulching â¦
Would love to hear from others growing apple seedlings in pots/containersâ¦

seedlings in pic over a week old

almost a moth old

lovely seedlings

transplanted my seedlings into larger pots the plan is to grow them in the pots for ten months or until they get root bound which ever comes first.

Thanks applenut i do intend to import apples trees if all goes well will place my order late January. if not 2016 for sure. like the video. my plan thou for the seedlings is to keep them in pots till the 2016 rainy season. trying to reduce the juvenile stage of my apple seedlings. growing them in the pots will allow me to have a greater influence on their growth. aiming for 2 meters in height before i plant them out.

my trees still growing

The apples may make good cider. But yes, pretty much rootstock if growing in your own soil (potted).

Fortunately due to Mr. Hauser and his colleagues in Uganda they now know of at least a couple of dozen apple cultivars that are suitable for the tropics. They have even compiled peer reviewed reports of growing apples elsewhere in the tropics.

that may be so, cider apples are welcomed. i want more just to grow them to fruiting. i have made contact with Mr. Hauser and its just the matter of funds.... maybe next year if all goes well..... update on my plants is as follows

as can be seen in the pic the seedlings have grown many feathered branches....i neglected them a bit and fell out of the routine care schedule. the heat and pest pressure from aphids brought about stress and this is the result ( my unprofessional opinion). they are in plastic pots outdoors in full sun, i now water them every other day and fertilize every Tuesday with a liquid fertilizer.planing on starting a compost tea treatment between fertilization. i am going to leave the feathered branches on as i don't plan on doing any pruning until after the first fruit set.

8 months in the ground, 8 months of neglect. 3 months of dry season weather here in Grenada to go if they make it through they will be on their way to become mature tress. Trees are all raim irrigated

Started a few seeds in st. Lucia

growing apples from seed · More Info

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hi I am growing apple tree from seeds here in Trinidad. what I want to know is how to care for them as a seedling. #grow your own

hey pembertonroger2 did you get to grow your seedlings how have they done