Hi!

I've planted a lot of apple seeds, and the seedlings seem to do well. However, one (and only one) seedling has turned purple. How come?

I have seen phosphorous deficiency, as a result of too low temperature, being proposed as a solution. They are grown under blueish white light, for seedling propagation.

But, if phosphorous deficiency is the cause - why do this only affect one single seedling, while none of the other 40+ apple tree seedlings show even a speck of purple?

Thanks for any replies!

Where did you get the seeds?
Crabapple trees are commonly used as pollinators in large orchards. Perhaps there was a purple-leafed crapapple in the neighborhood of the tree that produced the apple that produced the seed that you have started.
I doubt that it is a nutrient deficiency.
I hope you will let it grow and see what happens!

Hi MsDoe!

Thanks for the answer!

I also thought about the possibility it could be some crabapple dna manifesting - if that is the case, I hope it gets the leaves and NOT the taste!

I bought the seeds from treeseedsplus on ebay. It is supposed to be seeds from the cultivar Red Delicious. My plan is to plant every plant that survives along my fields - maybe. One of the trees produce a wonderfully tasting tree - I'll see in 10-15 years

I bought seeds from a couple of other cultivars too, Fuji and Antonovka. The red delicious was first to germinate, followed by Fuji. But from the Antonovka seeds - which is supposed to be cold hardy - there hasn't been a single seed germinating. I think it is the eternal cold weather this year! It NEVER ENDS!!! We have had snow now for the last week, every day, in May - usually we see the last snow in March... I hope this isn't the trend

That's what I love about planting seeds... You never know what you will get (and the reason specificially named varieties are always grown from cuttings). Your Red Delicious seeds aren't Red Delicious, they just came from a Red Delicious tree.

Purely genetics. Can't be a nutrient deficiency because at this stage all the nourishment is derived from the nucellus (seed).
The first true leaf does seem to be more green than the cotyledons

Congrats! You've won the genetic lottery in your seedlings. It will be fun to watch what they grow into.

The seedling loses its copper/red color as it grows, but new leaves always start out dark red/opper.

Sd, I thought I'd give you an update on the "red" apple tree seedling. After over-wintering in my above zero celsius cellar, my apple tree seedlings are waking to their second year. Some late cold weather has made me put them in the greenhouse, but I'll soon put them outside.

For those wondering how my red apple tree seedling looked now, here are some photosn

That's a great looking tree. I'm going to predict it will bloom pink.

Thanks Daisyl!

It is starting to look nice, so I hope it takes being planted outside well :D ..

I am also extremely excited about how the apples will look and taste - but that is years into the future! 😂

Just a last update, for this spring. Leaves fully sprung.

You might get apples next year or the year after.

What's with those crazy spikey pots?

It will be fun to see what color that one blooms. Keep us posted.

Henderman said:
What's with those crazy spikey pots?

Hi Henderman!

The crazy spikey pots are airpots.. I think it is made out of house foundation protective plastic sheets, where the points have been ground down to reveal holes. I buy them online, smalles ones 1/4 gallon for $2.5. It gives a perforated pot with a dry outer layer of soil, and the roots of the plants get air-pruned. You will get plants with a massive root structure without getting "tangled" roots. When you replant such a potted plant its roots explode into the new soil! It is great for trees of all sorts!

Just a late-summer update. Next spring it's going into the ground, I predict flowers the following year.

henxan said:Just a late-summer update. Next spring it's going into the ground, I predict flowers the following year.

Autumn and winter are the times to plant decidious hardwood plants. Don't wait until spring.

Arico said:

Autumn and winter are the times to plant decidious hardwood plants. Don't wait until spring.

Yes, but I haven't prepared the area where I will be planting my trees yet, and I just don't have the time until next year. A lot trees, bushes and so need to go, the ground need to be prepared. So, it's mainly a time issue.

Another year, even less time to get around to planting my seedlings 😂... well, I hope for better time next year.

First image from summer, second in august (this is the "mature" color of the leaves) and autumn color in the third image - taken today. ☺