Knowledgebase
Rusty spots growing on my apple tree plant #875335
Asked June 30, 2024, 11:51 AM EDT
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi,
I applaud your effort and will to promote the hobby of gardening ! That's the good news, the bad is that apples don't grow true from seed. This means that the apple your granddaughter was eating will not be the apple trees those seedlings grow up to be. They will very likely be more like crab apples and probably not taste very good.
The rust on the leaves issue aside, I would go buy a couple different apple trees that can cross pollinate each other and sneakily plant those in place of the seedlings this fall or early next spring.
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/can-i-grow-apple-tree-seed
Keep growing,
Sally Granath
St. Louis County MG