Tough Trees for Tough Climates
 Edible Forest Nursery  
Visit Rootstock Tables for an overview of rootstock characteristics
 
   
Crabs: Chipman, Dauphin, Centennial, Kerr, Chinese Golden Early Rosybrook, Renown, Spy 227 (on 111)
Apple Rootstock Index Page

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.

Apples on Bud 118 rootstock:
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.
 Apples on Ranetka standard rootstock:
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.
Apples on Antonovka standard rootstock:
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.
Apples on Bud 9 rootstock:
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.
Apples on MM 111 rootstock:
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.