Orange Pippin Forum Board

Hi

I have managed to germinate some Pink Lady apple pips and not being a very expert gardener, I feel very proud of myself. I have now learned that they are sterile and that I will need to have another tree. Will two of the same type of tree be ok, or will I need a different variety?

Also, as with the lady below, I am hoping to grow them in France when we move there. We will be in the centre of France where it has been known for +40 degrees in summer and -20 degrees in winter.

We do have fig trees and apricot trees growing in our French garden so I am hoping that if these fruits can cope with the winter, apple trees will too. There is an old pear tree, but that sucumbed to 'something'.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

It's always fun to plant pips and see what you get. In case you did not realise, your new trees are not Pink Lady / Cripps Pink, but a new variety of which that is the mother variety. The father variety was most likely a crab apple used to pollinate in the orchard where the Pink Lady apple you used was grown. Most (but not all) apple varieties are self-sterile and need a pollinator tree nearby - it has to be a different variety and bloom at around the same time. However I would not worry about that for a while, as seedling apple trees usually take 3-4 years before they start producing blossom. If you are lucky you will have a nice-tasting apple, but don't be surprised if you end up with something more like a crab apple -all part of the fun!