Apples

So, I'm very fussy about apples. I only like one type an that is Granny Smith.  I like them tart.  Now, I guess I should investigate this but is Granny Smith actually just an early picking stage of a different variety?  Because although I'd planned to start from seed anyway, I've only ever seen a Granny Smith for sale as a plant in one gardening catalogue, and most that do fruit trees have a huge range of apple varieties.  So either they are rare or don't sell well because not that many people like them?  I'm not sure!

I did start some from seed a while ago, I was thinking it was a failed attempt as after planting about 6 seeds (the contents of 1 whole apple) nothing appeared for at least a good two months.  I get impatient waiting for plants to sprout, because I just love watching them peep through the soil then grow and mature into something so different from how they started out.  But finally, something popped up!

I was thrilled, though some pesky slug (I presume) came along and nibbled the entire top off.  But no worries, another sprout popped up, this time left alone by slugs.  Though again after about another month this it had gotten...about 2cm above the soil.  It seemed to be getting eaten alive by greenfly, and having not seen a ladybird all year I thought it best to bring it inside to nurture the tender creature.  Turned out eggs had been laid in the soil, because soon enough the coriander pot right next to it on the windowsill was bombarded with greenfly too, literally coated in the buggers!  I threw it out, luckily I had another coriander pot completely unscathed.

Anyway, back to the apple.  Once I brought it inside, the following morning a new sprout had appeared out of nowhere, and reached twice the height of the existing one.  Kind of like when your younger sibling grows up to be much taller than you so people assume he's the older one.  Since they were just in a starter pot (really a disposable plastic cup with some drainage holes cut in the bottom) I knew it was time to pot them on soon.  I gave them another week in their tiny pot in case any more sprouts appeared, but nothing came of that so they're now resting in their new spacious pots, next to each other.

I'll be keeping them indoors over the winter because they're so tiny and tender right now, plus the greenhouse isn't heated so I know it will get too cold for them.  I'm hoping they'll grow a fair bit in spring before I move them outside around April/May depending on the frosts.  I might move them to the greenhouse first.  It's going to be a long time before I can get my own Granny Smith's from these trees, but the satisfaction that will have come from growing these from seed to fruit will be oh so sweet.