What are Rootstocks?

Rootstocks are trees bred specifically for the performance of their roots.  The foliage and fruit of the tree are inconsequential as the top part of the tree is cut off and discarded.

Different rootstocks are bred for specific purposes, such as the size of the tree, disease resistance, cold hardiness, etc.  Because of the widespread cultivation of apples, more rootstock varieties are available for apples than all other tree fruits combined.  No matter what your growing conditions, there is a rootstock for you.

Dwarfing rootstocks can limit the size of the tree for planting in smaller spaces, but is not the only or best way to control the size of the tree.  This is best done with summer pruning, which is covered in-depth in Growing Apples in the City

 

Trade Name Common Name

Tree Size

Seedling Standard 100%- 25 feet tall
M 111-  Semi-standard 85% - 20 feet tall
M7- Semi-dwarf 65% - 15 feet tall

We offer  M7 and M111 rootstocks on our benchgrafts

We no longer offer the more dwarfing rootstocks such as P22 and Bud. 9, as we've found that a warm climate has a dwarfing effect on apple trees and M7 can be easily kept small enough to espalier or pick from without a ladder.  Bud. 9 and P22 also had a multitude of graft failures last year, while M7 and M111 had an almost 100% "take".  The smaller rootstocks like Bud. 9, P22 and M27 also seem to be too wussy for our climate, easily killed by borers and not recovering from damage very quickly.  An irrigation failure can also mean certain death for them.

On the other hand, more vigorous rootstocks like M7 and above are well-anchored and need no staking.  They grow quickly and recover well from damage.  If you forget to water a week they will take it in stride.  They may bear fruit about the same time you allow your smaller rootstocks to start fruiting.  Seedling and M111 rootstocks are long-lived; 100 years or more is quite common.  And with summer pruning, you can keep them any size, even the same size as the most dwarfing rootstocks.

Apple rootstock research is geared toward cold climates.  We have started the import quarantine process for Hashabi apple rootstocks from Israel that have proven there to be more productive in a hot climate.  They should be available in 2014 (sorry, nothing happens fast in the apple world).

A seedling (rootstock planted from a seed) tree is considered 100% size and can get 30' wide and 25' tall  .  All other dwarfing rootstocks are compared to the seedling for size.  Seedling rootstocks have certain advantages: they are long-lived (this tree is well over 100 years old), their roots go 30' deep and are drought-resistant, they recover quickly from damage, and will bear heavily. 

Depending on the variety grafted on them they may be slow to bear.  But sometimes it is worth the wait.  They can be kept any size by summer pruning.  We can show you how!

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