Apples grow from seeds that germinate and develop into seedling trees, which, after several years of care, produce flowers that are pollinated and eventually bear fruit.
Here's a breakdown of the apple-growing process:
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Seed Germination and Seedling Development: An apple seed, when planted in the soil, sprouts roots that reach down to absorb nutrients. The young plant that emerges from the seed is called a seedling.
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Tree Development: The seedling grows into a young tree. Apple trees typically take several years to mature and produce fruit. Grafting is a common technique used to propagate apple trees; a desired variety of apple (scion) is joined to the rootstock of another apple tree, which offers beneficial traits like disease resistance or dwarfing.
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Flowering: Mature apple trees produce flowers, usually in the spring.
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Pollination: These flowers require pollination to produce fruit. Bees are crucial pollinators, transferring pollen from one apple flower to another. Cross-pollination (pollen from a different apple variety) is generally necessary for optimal fruit set.
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Fruit Development: After successful pollination, the flower's ovary develops into the apple fruit.
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Ripening: The apple fruit grows and ripens over several months, accumulating sugars, developing its characteristic color and flavor.
