Pull a tree out of the core

If you want to grow trees on your own, you don't always have to purchase a pre-selected specimen. Numerous native species are ideal for this very purpose. The seeds that you can take from the fruit are used for this. This project depends on the plants that you have available and that have seeds, as well as tips for growing and caring for them.

Core: definition

Trees can quickly become expensive to grow when specimens are purchased from nurseries. Depending on the size, vintage and variety, prices can vary and sometimes not be affordable. For this reason, a popular alternative is the independent pulling of trees from kernels. Since kernels can be found in the fruits, they are ideal for cultivation without incurring high costs. The most characteristic species in your own garden include those belonging to the pome and stone fruit. The two groups differ significantly, although some fruits and the trees themselves may at first glance have a certain resemblance. Therefore, it is important to know what makes species with nuclei:

• Core casing mostly present
• at least 5 chambers
• at least 1 core in each chamber
• The kernels are the seeds
• Kernels quite soft
• can be chewed
• no shell available
• Kernels and fruits have a long shelf life and can be stored

In comparison, stones are not connected to a core, as only one is formed per fruit. This can either be completely as hard and quite large seeds or, as in the case of cherries (bot. Prunus genera) and many other species are provided with a shell. This is where the seed is located. For this reason, the name "cherry pit" is incorrect, as it is a stone fruit. As for many other species and especially fruit trees, the term Kern has simply become established. Since seed and stone crops do not have the same cultivation requirements, you need to know about suitable taxa. The next section will give you

suitable trees are presented, which can be grown via kernels.

Note: Stone fruit also includes avocados and mangoes, which are widely regarded as pome fruit. Although a tree can also be grown from the stones, these are not cores because the structure is completely different.

13 suitable plants with seeds

When choosing suitable species whose kernels are suitable for breeding, there are a few available to you. Especially in Central Europe there are numerous plants that develop nuclei that you can use for cultivation. What is striking is the number of species that make up the pome fruit family (Pyrinae) within the rose family (bot. Rosaceae) include:

• woodapple (Malus sylvestris)
• Apple (Malus domestica)
• Pears (Pyrus)
• Chinese quince (Chaenomeles sinensis)
• Service tree (Sorbus torminalis)
• pomegranate (Punica granatum)
• Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
• quince (Cydonia oblonga)
• Service tree (Sorbus domestica)
• rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus)
• Japanese loquat (Eriobotrya japonica)
• Copper rock pear (Amelanchier lamarckii)

The pomegranate is a big exception. Pomegranates have an extremely large amount of kernel that can be used for cultivation, while apples or pears, for example, do not have that many available. In species like the mountain ash, on the other hand, the core casing is not as pronounced and the cores are extremely small. That makes the harvest difficult. Still, you can grow a tree from any of the above species. If you want to grow fruit trees specifically, this is a good opportunity.

Note: Often the kernels of the types and genera mentioned

referred to as seeds, especially when they are quite small. Don't let that fool you if you have a particular one

Pulling a tree out of the core: 7 tips

As already described above, you have to pay attention to a few points in order to be able to grow a vital sapling from kernels. If kernels are used for propagation, make use of robust and undemanding plants, which are already quite satisfied with a little. Quite the opposite of stone fruit, because with a mango or cherry stone you already have your hands full. To make it easier for you to grow seeds using seeds, you will find 7 tips on this topic in the following sections. Since most of these species are fruit trees, you can easily apply the information to the species mentioned. If you want to optimally address the needs of the individual taxa, you can also take a look at the portrait or care instructions.

Note: When using kernels from your own garden you have to expect that in the end Another variety emerges like the mother tree, which also has the properties of a wild apple can. The reason for this is the lack of refinement, which you can make up for later with a noble twig and a suitable mat.

Collect cores

One of the most important points in cultivating your own trees is the kernel. If you already have specimens of the species mentioned in your garden or find them as wild specimens in your region, you can use the fruits without any problems to extract the kernels from them. Perhaps your friends or neighbors even have the right tree of the desired species on site. If that is not an option, you can buy fruit from the farmer or in the health food store. Native varieties are highly recommended for better results. Depending on the type, variety and size of the fruit, you have to expect that a different amount of seeds is available. They are collected in the following way:

• Select ripe fruits
• open carefully
• do not damage the cores
• Remove cores
• store in bowl

With pomegranates in particular, make sure that the kernels do not fall on the ground. The fruits are actually well filled. On the other hand, it is not so bad with the pomegranate if you damage or lose the seeds. In comparison, it is not recommended for an apple or a rowan because they do not develop as many seeds. Damaged kernels do not germinate.

Tip: Select the kernels after collecting them so that there are no dead seeds. For this purpose, the kernels are stored overnight in a water bath and disposed of floating on the surface of the water.

Clean

Cores have a big advantage over stones. Since in most cases they are located in a core, the cleaning effort before sowing is significantly lower. Apple or pear stones, for example, don't even have to be cleaned. Only species whose kernels are directly covered by the pulp require cleaning. You leave the kernels in the cold for a short period of time

Soak in water and then carefully remove the pulp with kitchen paper. Then let the kernels dry. The process is similar to cherry stone cleaning, only that no warm water is required.

Stimulate germination

Do not forget that many domestic fruit trees need a stimulus to germinate. Above all, a cold stimulus is necessary, as this mimics the natural course of the seasons. This step is not necessary for Mediterranean pome fruit such as pomegranate. These are simply added directly to the growing medium in spring. This is also the case with the Japanese loquat. Stratification takes place over a period of six to eight weeks and usually begins in December. The clean and dry kernels are put in a freezer bag with moistened sand. Close tightly and store in the refrigerator, or more precisely in the vegetable drawer. The kernels are removed for sowing in spring.

Location

While the location in the garden must have enough space and the right characteristics, the location for sowing is a little different. For the cultivation of fruit trees, the following points are observed:

• Light requirement: bright
• no direct midday sun
• Windowsill ideal
• warm
• avoid cold drafts

Sow seeds

As soon as the sowing date for the respective species has come, usually in March, you can place the seeds in a suitable substrate. This can be done in the following way:

• Prepare growing pots
• Drainage layer on the ground: gravel, pottery shard
• Fill two thirds with potting soil
• Put the cores in the substrate
• Depth: 0.5 to 2 cm (depending on the type)
• moisten

For some species it is necessary to soak the kernels in water for a period of 24 hours. Loquats or other trees with a hard core are one of them. Do not be surprised: some of the species mentioned take a very long time to germinate. While apples germinate quite early like a cherry stone, you sometimes have to wait until the next year for a plant like the loquat.

Strengthen for planting

As soon as it gets warmer and the sun shows up more and more, you can get the young plants used to the outdoors. For this, the plants in the tub are put outside for two to three weeks from mid-April to mid-May. Choose a partially shaded location. The plants are brought back into the house overnight, otherwise they will freeze to death.

Care until planting

The last few weeks before planting or moving to the garden after the ice saints are easy. Fertilizer is not necessary, nor do you have to repot. Only the substrate must always be kept slightly moist so that the young plants do not dry out. No more needs to be done until the planting date or move to the tub for the outdoor area is due. If the plants grow too strongly, you can shorten the shoot tips a little, for example in the case of pomegranate.