Half of the apples grown in the United States are grown in Washington State. This article will show you how to care about my favorite apple tree - the Fuji apple, which is the size of a baseball. They contain about 10% sugar and are delicious, yummy, delicious! Washington State produces about 150,000 tons of Fuji apples each year. There are two ways to grow Fuji apple trees The Slow Way - Let me start by saying that if you plant your tree and grow it from seed, you choose the slow way, and it can take years to mature enough to produce fruit. If you want to do that, here's how to do it: Place a few apple seeds (10-12 seeds) on a wet paper towel. Flip the towel over and put it on a plate in the fridge. Check them daily and keep the seeds moist (not wet - damp) at all times. If water drips from the paper towel, it means that it is too wet. 
Within 7-10 days, your seeds will germinate and you can put them in a pot of soil. Don't put them outside in the ground until they germinate, or you're setting yourself up for disappointment. I like to use Miracle Grow plant soil, and I like to start my trees in a container so I can get them a little smaller while they get older. Place the germinated seeds in a gallon container of soil and water them to settle the seeds. Place it in a sunny window if you want to keep it indoors for a while, or place the pot outside near the back door so you can keep an eye on it. I move a lot of my plants into containers so they can withstand the weather as best they can. If it's sunny but not hot, put the pot in the sun for several hours each day. If it's raining outside, set the bowl so that it gets a little rain instead of a good soak. After your seedling grows into a small tree, you can transplant it to its permanent home in the yard. Now, be prepared to wait about 8-10 years, this is how long it will take the seeds to grow into productive trees for Fuji apples. The Fastest (and Best) Way - My best recommendation is to skip all of the above steps and buy yourself a small, healthy Fuji apple tree and plant it in the fall when it's dormant. I will still keep a small tree in a 5-gallon container to make sure it grows properly within my watchful eye (near my house). Sometimes, if you plant them in the back of your garden, they will be forgotten. If you decide to start with a young Fuji apple tree, try to find the best healthy tree with the strongest rootstock. They are usually sold bare-rooted, so pay more attention to the roots than the stems, as it is the rootstock that determines your tree's size and resistance to pests. 
Keep your roots nice and moist until you plant. Plant your young tree outside in the fall when it is dormant. (Apple trees are deciduous, so they'll lose their leaves in the fall—when the leaves are gone on your young tree, it's ready to plant.) Your apple tree needs four to six hours of sun per day (when Mother Nature cooperates), but it will need a few hundred hours of cooling at around 35-45 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooler temperatures encourage natural growth during the season when the tree is growing and not dormant. If you live in Washington state, Mother Nature knows what to do with your apples! Pruning and Thinning Branches Apple trees need pruning to develop a strong branch structure (to hold all that fruit!) and encourage fruiting. There are several ways to prune - these instructions are for a modified central leader shape often used for apple trees. Immediately after planting, cut the tree to a height of 24 to 30 inches (1/4 inch above a bud or branch) with a short stick and snip off any remaining side buds below the bud. It promotes reduced branching and evens out the upper and root system. In general, prune leaves as they are cut (when the tree is dormant). It's easy to see what you're doing and removing the dormant buds (growth points) strengthens the remaining buds. After the first growing season in the winter, select three to five horizontal branches, spaced around the tree for a total of 2 to 3 vertical feet. Place the branches at about a 45-degree angle to the trunk if possible. This will be the first layer of the scaffold. Remove the parts (other than the leader) that can rival the leader and roll the dice. The leader's head if it's too strong compared to the rest of the tree. Always cut near the branch collar or bud to avoid stubs. 
In subsequent years, grow another series of horizontals every two to three feet above the central leader, until the tree is the structure you want. If at any time you need to encourage branching and, in any case, when the tree is tall as it is, cut off the central head. After that, you will still need to prune the tree to keep its shape. Summer pruning can be useful for slowing down very active trees or for reducing the size of very large trees. This is usually done after harvesting. Other pruning tips:
- Cut an angle about 45 degrees away from the nearest bud or stem.
- Physical lateral spread (spreading sticks or laces) may be necessary at five to six feet in height to form a proper 45-degree angle with the trunk.
- When pruning a mature apple tree, remove about 20% of the previous year's growth, starting with weak, diseased, or dead ends; which side is pointing down; Water buds and any buds below the grafting junction.
- Leave short horizontal branches on the selected ends to bear fruit - apples grow at the ends of short branches or spurs.
- Make the bottom of the tree wider than the top and trim it as needed to allow the sun to enter the center of the tree.
Tips and Warnings Dig a hole outside to be able to accommodate the root, and spread it out to prevent the roots from growing into a large, tangled mess. When you turn the soil over the roots, press down just enough to make sure the roots are touching the soil in all places. Once planted, water your tree well and spread mulch around to retain moisture and protect the roots from cold, harsh weather. Fuji apple trees bloom in mid to late spring. Start making a lot of friends and learn how to bake apple pies, because when your Fuji apple trees start getting fruit, you won't be able to eat them fast enough.