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Tough Trees for
Tough Climates
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Edible Forest Nursery |  |
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To choose your tree, first pick your
rootstock,(that is, the part of the tree that is grafted below which
forms the roots.) Choosing the correct rootstock can mean the difference
between survival of your tree in your climate and soil but also your
satisfaction with the size of the mature tree as well as the years it
takes to bear its first crops.
Below you will find various rootstocks, read the descriptions and
then click on the link that represents your best rootstock choice. From
there you will go to the apple variety page.
Very- winter hardy to zone 3, grows standard sized trees, maybe a little smaller. Does very well in poor light soil, ok in heavier soil. Brings trees into bearing very young. No staking required. Can stunt its large size by allowing to bear heavy crops while young.
Super winter- hardy rootstock, to zone 2, grows standard sized trees, maybe a little smaller. Does very well in poor light soil, ok in heavier soil.
Very winter- hardy to zone 3, grows standard sized trees, 15- 25 feet in the north. Does better than most in heavier soil.
Apples on Bud
9/Antonovka interstem:
Interstems combine the best
of both worlds: like a dwarf they bear their fruits young, they produce
high yields per tree size, and they stay small (8-11 ft mature trees)
and so are easy to care for and harvest. Like a standard they are free
standing (no staking required unless extremely windy) and they withstand
extreme neglect, (except from browsing animals). Their only drawback seems
to be that they are known to produce suckers near the base of the tree..
To discourage suckering, bury the interstem/rootstock graft union by a
few inches. Hardy to about 40 below.Zone 3. read
more
Apples on Baccata
standard rootstock:
This rootstock is super winter- hardy to zone 2, maybe zone 1. Grows trees
that are about 2/3 size of most standard apple trees, may bring tree into
bearing a bit earlier.
Very winter- hardy to zone 3, grows dwarf- sized trees, 8-10 ft mature height.. Brings trees into bearing earlier except in the far north (unless perhaps if pampered.) Drought resistant for a dwarf. Needs staking.
Very winter- hardy to zone 3, grows standard sized trees, maybe a little smaller. Brings trees into heavy bearing very young. Survived well with no snow and 30 below C. Drought resistant. Generally free standing.
Extremely vigorous, hard to kill except with winter cold. Does extremely well on poor sandy soil, and better than most in heavier soil too. Produces a tree that is about 2/3 standard size.
Survives above ground to about -30 F. In far north with reliable snow cover, could be a good choice for sandy soil, it may induce earlier bearing in the north due to its vigor.