Help me choose rootstock from these 2

13 years ago

I want to try to create a few 'custom' apple trees and a local nursery is having a sale on crabapples that I hope will make suitable rootstock. Please look at these and help me decide, I dont know much about either tree...

http://lincolnoakes.com/stock/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=179

http://lincolnoakes.com/stock/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=176

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Comments (5)

Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
13 years ago
Your links, clickable: 1, 2.
brandon7 TN_zone7
13 years ago
If I understand you, you are wanting to use these crabapples as rootstock for edible apple trees??? WHY??? Isn't this re-inventing the wheel AND starting out with a "square" prototype? Maybe there's something I am missing here....
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brandon7 TN_zone7
13 years ago
Oh, and BTW, there is a high probability that the plants offered in your link are grafted onto some other rootstock.
TheDerek
Original Author
13 years ago
no, they are seedlings and I was under the impression that hardy crabapples made decent rootstock for edible apples, is that not correct?
brandon7 TN_zone7
13 years ago
Apple rootstock development has been going on for a very long time and many advances have been made. Commercial rootstocks usually have a number of advantages over seedling rootstock. Here is a list I put together a while back of characteristics controlled or influenced by rootstock (and I especially had apples in mind when I made this list):

1. ultimate size of your tree
2. growth rate
3. amount and complexity of maintenance
4. ease of harvest
5. productivity
6. preciosity
7. senescence
8. hardiness
9. adaptation to different soils and soil conditions
1. drought tolerance
2. how well the tree will be anchored
3. whether the tree will need permanent or temporary support (not just how well it's anchored)
4. fruit size
5. resistance to certain diseases
6. resistance to certain pests
7. rootstock and scion graft compatibility
8. tendency to sucker
9. and I'm sure I'm leaving off at least something.
If you use crabapple seedling rootstock, you probably won't know a lot about how any of these parameters will be influenced by that choice. You probably also won't be dealing with virus-free material.

I wonder why you want to use the crabapple seedlings. Maybe there's more to this story? If not, I look at like I would someone seeking transportation choosing to build a vehicle out of various surplus mechanical parts instead of shopping at their local car dealership. There may well be a valid reason to do so, but it's not the "normal solution". I'm wondering why you are considering using the crabapple seedlings.