As an apple lover and hobby gardener, I’ve always been fascinated by the journey apples take from seed to fruit. The entire growing process is intricate yet graceful in its design At its core lies a simple 14 letter phrase that captures the essence of apple cultivation – fructification
In this article we’ll unpack the mysteries behind this lyrical 14 letter word and explore the step-by-step process of growing apples from the ground up. From planting seeds to producing fruit-bearing trees, it’s an elegant cycle revealing nature’s wisdom.
Fructification: A Poetic Term for Fruit Production
The 14 letter word “fructification” eloquently describes the process that transforms delicate apple blossoms into ripe, juicy fruits. It encompasses everything from pollination to fruit set to maturation on the branch.
Breaking it down, “fruct” relates to fruit or enjoyment. “Ify” means to make or cause to be. And “cation” refers to the process of changing into a different form. So fructification beautifully captures how apples come to fruition through various growing stages.
From Seed to Tree: Preparing for Fructification
Before those lovely pink-tinged apple blossoms emerge, there’s groundwork to be laid. Fructification starts long before signs of flowers or fruits become visible. Here’s an overview of starting apples from seed:
Planting
- Apple trees should be spaced 8-10 feet apart in loamy, well-draining soil. Most are grafted onto hardy rootstocks.
Germinating
- Seeds need cold stratification – plant in fall or chill seeds for 3 months before planting. Protect young sprouts from frost.
Caring for Seedlings
- Water 1-2 inches per week and weed/mulch around base. Train central leader trunk. Transplant after 1-2 years.
Maturing
- Apple trees begin fruiting after 4-8 years. Maximum yields arrive around 15 years old.
As you can see, fructification requires foresight, patience and care before apples appear. But it pays off long-term with a robust, fruiting tree.
From Bloom to Fruition: The Fructification Sequence
Once mature, the real magic of fructification unfolds yearly in 3 key stages:
1. Florification: Flowering and Pollination
-
In spring, apple blossoms emerge on branch tips, signaling fructification’s start.
-
Bees spread pollen from flower to flower, fertilizing the embryo that becomes the fruit core.
-
Frosts can damage delicate blooms. Some varieties need cross-pollination.
2. Fruit Set: Cell Division and Growth
-
Fertilized flowers transition into tiny green fruits around the developing seed.
-
Cell division and expansion rapidly enlarge the fruit for several weeks after petal fall.
-
Not all fertilized flowers survive due to tree resource limitations. Proper spacing prevents overcrowding.
3. Ripening: Sugars and Color Development
-
As fruits mature, chlorophyll breaks down revealing the characteristic apple skin color.
-
Starch converts to sugar, making apples sweet and ripe for harvest.
-
Ethylene gas triggers textural changes and skin color shifts. Trees produce less ethylene as they age.
Celebrating nature’s elegant 14 letter fructification sequence gives me renewed awe for growing apples. From dormant seed to succulent fruit, it’s a wondrous transformation.
Key Takeaways
-
Fructification is a 14 letter word meaning the process of producing fruit.
-
Apple cultivation from seed requires years of care before the first blossoms and fruits.
-
Pollination, cell growth, and ripening transform flowers into ripe apples through fructification.
-
The cycle reveals nature’s wisdom, showing how apples come to fruition.
So next time you bite into a crisp, sweet apple, remember the intricate journey it underwent from seed to tree to fruit. Appreciate the diligent work of pollinators and the generosity of sunlight and rain. Fructification encapsulates the beauty, complexity and aromas of apples filling your harvest basket.
NewsletterToday’s breaking news and more in your inboxEmail
A long stretch of 27th Street and a couple of other roads in Fort Dodge will get concrete repairs this spring and …
Aaron Davidson is a family man, and his move to the Clear Creek-Amana School District is allowing him and his wife, …
Iowa Central Community College held its annual Night of Triton Excellence on Wednesday. A total of 367 students …
After over 50 years of ownership, Baedkes sell Community Orchard
When he was 8 years old, Greg Baedke would play in the dirt at the old pumpkin patch.
Greg’s family had moved to Fort Dodge in 1960, and his dad — Don — first served as the full-time handyman at the Community Apple Orchard.
Don eventually took over as owner. And in 1981, Greg and his wife, Bev, became co-owners with his parents.
“My dad was the manager of the orchard and did a lot of outside stuff,” Greg said. “My earliest memories were spending time as a kid out here. My mom (Darlene) was a nurse, and during apple season, she would come in and help.
“Dad was leasing the Orchard back in 1973, and we were working for him. In 1981, we became half owners and made a partnership.”
In 1990, Greg and Bev began their journey as sole owners of the iconic Fort Dodge business.
“We became full owners and the Orchard was open from August until November — or how long the apples lasted,” Greg said. “Bev later decided it would be nice to have a set schedule through Dec. 23.”
The Baedkes have been creating memories for Fort Dodge and area families for decades now: during Applefest, at the Sunflower Festival or along the Back Forty. After years of maintaining and building the legacy of the community landmark, the Baedkes decided to take a step back and sell the orchard.
“There is a lot of emotion in selling,” Bev said. “We’ve been doing it for over 50 years. It’s our baby. We have a great family taking over. We are blessed right now, and the families are excited.
“They are going to rock with it.”
New owners Denny and Emily Stucky plan on maintaining the tradition of one of Fort Dodge’s most cherished properties. The Baedkes plan on helping through the transition process.
“Quite honestly, if they hadn’t offered to be here (during the early stages of the transition), I don’t know how we would be able to do this,” Denny Stucky said. “This place has grown so much, and there are so many parts of the orchard.
“We are so fortunate and appreciative of them being willing to work with us as one of their own. It wouldn’t happen and couldn’t happen without them.”
Emily Stucky shared her husband’s sentiments.
“Greg and Bev want the Community Orchard to succeed into the future,” she said. “We would be completely lost without them.”
The Baedkes have grown the Orchard into a fall destination for Fort Dodge and area families. Greg enjoys seeing the family dynamic of the visits, as children are amazed by the pumpkins and apples.
“Down at the pumpkin patch, you will see a child say, ‘Dad, I want this one’ and it’s maybe not the greatest one,” Greg said. “But that’s the one they want.”
Greg and Bev have three children: Jodi Spitz, age 50; Jon, 49; and Julie Cripe, 44; along with eight grandchildren.
“All of our kids have worked here and helped out,” the Baedkes said. “Julie helps in the fall and Jon comes out and helps. He’s done all the landscaping out here.
The gift shop was added in 1986, and they remodeled the kitchen in the early 1990s. The addition of the Back 40 Playground came in 2012 after a tough year with the apple crop.
“We lost our whole crop in early April (2012),” Greg said. “They bloomed in March, but then we had a hard freeze around the seventh or eighth of April.”
Losing their crop could have been devastating, but the Baedkes decided to push forward and make one of the biggest changes at the facility.
“We wanted to have something positive (come out of 2012), so (the freeze) pushed us into making the Back 40,” Bev said. “After the loss of the crop, I think a lot of people would say we wouldn’t do it because we had to save money. But we wanted to do what was best for the long-term growth of (the property).
“I think the biggest thing was, we weren’t afraid to add things or take chances.”
The Community Orchard has been a place where families come to take a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch or wind their way through the corn maze. People tour the orchard for Applefest and the Sunflower Festival, while enjoying all of the amenities the property has to offer.
Applefest, which started in 1986 centered around the 5,000 apple trees on the Orchard land, has grown into a fall tradition for people from all corners of the state and even the midwest.
With the popularity and growth of Applefest, a one-time fall adventure has evolved into three weekends each fall. Patrons are able to taste numerous apple products and treats, visit the gift shop, and enjoy a meal with a bowl of famous Scarecrow Soup.
The Baedkes have held family reunions, graduation parties and even weddings, as the Orchard stays busy from opening day in August through the day before Christmas Eve.
Even though the orchard is only open to the public for five months, it takes a yearly routine to get prepared for the season.
“In January, it’s cleaning and painting. February we go out and start pruning and maintaining the equipment,” Greg said. “When spring and summer rolls around, it’s all focused on opening in August.”
The Baedkes have always embraced the family atmosphere their business has cultivated.
“We will have school tours and the kids really get excited about learning things,” Bev said. “Then they will come in with their parents and say, ‘this is how they make the cider.”
It’s a tradition 50 years in the making, and one the Baedkes hope will continue long after the transition of leadership is complete.
“It’s always felt like a family, not a business,” Bev said. “We’ve had parents come out with their kids, and now, we see their grandkids. It’s like we’ve grown up with them.
“It’s been a place where families make memories. It gets emotional, looking back and thinking about the times we’ve shared together.”
How to Grow Apple Trees, Complete Growing Guide
FAQ
What is the science of growing apples called?
The science of apple growing is called pomology.
What is the process of apples?
Apples are picked in the orchard and placed in bins weighed by the bushel (42 pounds). Bins of apples are transported to the packinghouse where they are washed, sized, sorted and packed. The packing process typically occurs the same day the apple is harvested.