Question: how does seeds turn into to trees like apple trees?

Ali Hill answered on 22 Jun 2018:

Hi Ben,

Cos seeds are really clever. They’ve got everything they need in the little seed to grow an entire plant. Or at least to start it (to germinate) – they need food and water to keep growing. they’ve also got genes in them that are kind of like an instruction manual, which is why some will grow into apple trees and others into sunflowers. Pretty clever really!

Some seeds are really specific. There are some seeds like the Yosemite Sequoia that needs fire to crack its shell open and won’t grow until it has. Which means that after a bush fire it’ll probably be the only plant there so won’t have to compete with different plants for food and water – pretty amazing really!