Growing a apple tree.

Hello, this is my first post. About 18 months ago I thought I'd try growing an apple tree from a seed. I hoped it would work as my mother in law's ashes were scattered under an apple tree, and the seeds were from an apple that had fallen from this particular tree, so it has significant meaning to my family. I took about ten seeds, kept them in wet kitchen roll in the fridge for a few months then planted them. Only one took.

It's now grown pretty tall and looks very healthy on my windowsill at work. The problem is, I don't know how to tend to it to be honest and if it should be outside or not yet. I re-potted it two months ago in 'Tree & shrub potting mix' as recommended by my local garden centre. I'm not feeding it with anything; should I be? It's gets enough sun and plenty of light, and the room doesn't get too cold during the night.

Any general advice please on what I need to do?

 

It will definitely be happier outside. Put it somewhere slightly shaded and sheltered at first to get used to it. Have you got a spot you can plant it? It will grow into a fair sized tree so don't put it too near the house. It won't be exactly like the parent tree but will eventually have lovely blossom in the spring to remind you of your mother in law.

 

Apple trees are naturally big. The only thing that makes them small is if they are grafted onto a rootstock of a smaller member of the apple family. Grafting is a skill which some people have and some don’t. I have tried, over the course of my lifetime, to graft apples and have failed spectacularly on every occasion. I have even attended a class in how to do it and failed there too. So you are going to have, pretty soon, a small tree that wants to be a big tree but is in a small pot. Do you know of any local garden clubs or schools that may like the challenge of growing a mystery variety? They could plant it and look after it for you.