Yes your Granny Smith should be going into dormancy and dropping its leaves. Growing from seed for two years the container is probably still large enough. You can knock it out of the container and look at the roots if in doubt. I am guessing this is a fun project and not a long range effort to grow a bearing apple tree. Al

Hi Al,

So one night 2 years ago I cut open a Granny Smith apple and noticed that one of the seeds had a large root growing out of it, so I decided to plant it, as I've never planted an apple tree from seed before. Now it's over 3 feet high and I have it tied to a stake because it leans over. Seems to grow very quickly from a seedling. Tammy

FYI, not to rain on your parade, but you in all probability do not have a "Granny Smitth Apple Tree", you have an apple whose seed parent is Granny Smith with an unknown pollen parent. Some fruit grow pretty close to the parent (canning peaches I am told are one example) but most fruit grown from seed are nothing like the "mother" fruit, just as few humans look exactly like their mother. Yours might be just as yummy as Granny Smith, or better, or not tasty at all, but you won't know until you get your first apple.

Carla in Sac

As Carla says, if grown for apples, there is no way of knowing what the fruit may be like. Beyond that, a seedling will be a standard size tree, perhaps up to 30 feet, and may not produce the first apple for up to 10 years. Apple seedlings tend to grow pretty straight if the light is equal all around, and should not need to be staked to keep vertical. Al

Well, it was not my intention to grow an apple, I just cut open this GS apple and there was this seed that was sprouting. I've never grown an apple tree from seed before so I immediately planted it in a small pot.

Bottom line - I don't CARE what the resulting fruit looks like or tastes like or makes fruits at all.

Since you like adventure: Yes it is very unlikely the fruit will be worth eating. But there actually was a Granny Smith. From the variety list of Kevin Hauser: "Granny Smith Australia, 1868 Few folk realize that this is the oldest supermarket apple variety. It sprouted from a washtub of French crab apple trimmings tossed out by an actual granny, Maria Anne Smith of the Ryde District of New South Wales." She got it from a seed so there is a chance (probably at least less than 1:200)

And since you like adventure and assuming this seedling is growing in your yard's native soil it will make an excellent seedling rootstock if it survives its first year or two (or five). You can practice all manner of grafting onto it with apple varieties who's scions you acquire locally or through exchange groups. Grafting: I bet you can do it!

Here is a link that might be useful: Kuffel Creek Apple Varieties List

See this link below also...all hope is not lost.

Here is a link that might be useful: Auntie Debra apple variety

When transplanting you should also knock all the dirt off the roots to check if the seedling roots have curled around inside the pot, common with vigorous trees. straighten them out or trim shorter, as if planted this way the tree will strangle itself.

Since your granny smith apple tree is a seedling its going to take at least 5-7 years to be mature enough to flower and fruit. Also, it may have been cross pollinated varying it.