[Penninehillbilly]

Flying in the face of garden experts 
Ì like sprouting apple pips and growing the trees on.
I now have some fruiting, usable size apple s(1 does seem to black marks on skin, but only skin deep).
They come off tree easily, this wind has brought quite a few down, but flesh seems unripe,
Does storing sweeten them?
Thinking of sticking some in a tray in the shed for a few weeks, see what happens.
Stewed a few last night, bit woody to peel, but tasted fine.

[DippyEgg]

Interesting. Did you just put the pips in soil? How long did it take to actually get apples from the tree?

[Penninehillbilly]

Ì tend to keep them damp until they sprout, then put them in a plant pot, dividing them later.
I can't remember how old the trees were,
Got blossom for a couple of years before I saw apples, but birds are getting in there, and it's been overgrown below branches, so maybe been dropping off into nettles.
I find half eaten (pecked) apples on ground, (pheasants i think) but a good crop this year, plenty to go round. I just wish theyd finish the one they are eating rather than keep pecking different ones 

[Steph Hen]

I do this too 
I keep them in a damp box in fridge till they start to germinate then plant out.

Storing them does change flavour and tends to get sweeter. Obviously also more mealy texture too which most people don’t like/ are unused to.

[DippyEgg]

Thanks. I'll try it :-)

[arobwk]

Thanks. I'll try it :-)

I saw/read somewhere that picking off/breaking the tough skin at the pointy tip of apple seeds helps germination.

[Penninehillbilly]

We e been stewing some up for dessert/adding to porridge, but i had a taste of the green one last night, very much like granny Smith's, not as tart, very nice.