How to grow an apple tree from a branch at home

Is it possible to grow an apple tree this way?

Is it possible to grow an apple tree from a branch? These trees are considered difficult to root, so it won't be easy. However, there are several techniques that can help root a branch.

What's the advantage of growing apple tree seedlings from branches of the mother plant? It preserves all of its properties and characteristics. This type of vegetative propagation allows you to maintain particularly successful, fruitful trees for a long period.

Not all varieties can be rooted. Some may experience severe abortive processes when various procedures are performed on the branches, while others do not. This depends on a number of physiological factors.

Another feature of cuttings made from apple tree branches is that they do not develop a deep root system. This apple tree can be planted in locations inaccessible to other apple trees—for example, near groundwater. However, its size makes it vulnerable to drought and frost.

Preparing cuttings

The apple tree sapling you plan to transplant vegetatively must be carefully selected. Choose a healthy, unbranched branch of the fruit tree. Among all the branches in the tree's crown, pay attention to the one facing the sun. The best candidates for apple tree cuttings for transplanting are second- or third-year branches approximately two to three centimeters in diameter.

Once you've selected a branch, you need to prepare it for layering. Remove a ring of bark from the surface and remove any fruiting buds on your branch. A cutting prepared this way will root better, and the resulting tree will establish itself more quickly in the soil.

It's best to cut green branches early in the morning, adapting to the apple tree's natural growth patterns. Be sure to cut the branch with the so-called heel—the base of the shoot, located where the shoot forks. With this little trick, seedlings root twice as fast.

Step-by-step instructions

Step one: Select a branch for transplanting, following the recommendations above. A good cutting for a future apple tree should be no older than three years old, green, and healthy.

Step two: Remove fruit buds from the selected branch. Carefully peel away the bark at the intended cut site.

Step three: make a cut on the seedling, then gently break off the branch along with the “heel”.

Step four: To increase the surface area for roots to form, you can protect or split the heel into several pieces.

Step five: Place the cutting in a jar of room-temperature water. To speed up the growth of the cuttings, use growth stimulants or fertilizers. Another rooting method is to grow cuttings on potatoes. This unusual method has already proven successful in the experience of many farmers. Remove all the eyes from the potato tuber. Choose a fairly large, healthy potato. Then insert the cutting into the tuber and cover it with soil.

To retain moisture, you can cover the entire plant with plastic wrap. At home, rooting can also be achieved using a number of other methods. The options described below are suitable for already hardwood seedlings. You can simply carefully bury the branch in fertile soil, ensuring it receives sufficient water. You can use a plastic bag to quickly remove the seedlings without damaging the root system. You can also use a box to store your branches in a warm, humid place. If rooting is proceeding normally, buds should begin to swell on the branch.

Step six: healthy cuttings should be planted in nutritious soil for further growth.

Further care

When growing an apple tree from a branch, it is important to remember that its root system will be more susceptible to environmental factors than that of apple trees grown from seeds. For two to three years, the tree is nurtured in nutritious soil. It's important to provide the young plant with adequate watering and avoid stress. Treat your plants regularly to prevent various diseases. It's best to cover these trees well with plastic during the winter.

In general, further care depends on the variety of the mother tree. Follow its growing recommendations and ensure the root system is healthy. These tips will help you successfully plant an apple tree branch, which will eventually grow into a large tree and delight you with its fruit.

Video: "Apple Tree from a Cutting"

This video will show you how to grow an apple tree from a cutting.