We will limit the number that can be purchased before noon to three of any one variety of rootstock except the cherry and peach, which are limited to one.
We also limit the number of scions of each variety to three each. After noon people can buy what is remaining.
Rootstocks average 1/4 inch in diameter, which is the best width on average for grafting the available scionwood. Bud grafting peaches on to the peach rootstock is done in the summer and not practical in winter. The rootstock can be planted, however, and budded in the summer.
Below are the rootstocks available followed by the estimated size a tree can be easily maintained on that rootstock. The size varies due to many factors, including the varying vigor of the cultivars grafted as well as the climate, soil conditions and the pruning strategy used.
Some important notes: Medlars and Shipova can be grafted to pear rootstock. Some pears are incompatible with Quince rootstock. Almonds, peaches and apricots are usually compatible with Marriana rootstock. Peaches usually work well on Krymsk I. Apricots and Peaches work well on Lovell peach rootstock. We were unable to obtain dwarf cherry and some other rootstocks this year. We can graft interstems on to rootstocks to make trees that are not as vigorous. We will explain this at the grafting and rootstock class.
| Fruit Tree | Size (feet) |
| Apple | |
| EMLA 27 | 5-8 |
| Bud 9 | 10 |
| EMLA 26 | 10-16 |
| Mark | 10-16 |
| EMLA 111 | 17-25 |
| Pear | |
| OHxF 87 | 15-20 |
| Quince | |
| BA 29 C | 15-20 |
| Plum | |
| Krymsk 1 | 10-15 |
| Marianna 2624 | 13-20 |
| Peach | |
| Lovell | 12-17 |
| Cherry | |
| Mazzard | 16-30 |
More about rootstocks:
Rootstocks listed below are followed by the estimated size a tree can be easily maintained on that rootstock.
Mature tree size varies due to many factors including the vigor of the cultivars grafted, as well as the climate, soil conditions and the pruning strategies used.
Apple
BUD 9: Maintain at 6-to-10-foot height and width.
Great choice for containers or growing in the ground. Induces early heavy bearing. Used commercially for trees grown on trellises. It requires permanent staking.
Thrives on a variety of soils. Long proven, reliable, very winter hardy.
Often used as an interstem with EMLA 111 to make a very well rooted but very dwarfed tree.
EMLA 26: Maintain at 10-to-15-foot height.
Makes a dwarf tree that is well anchored, reliable and productive.
Note: if not maintained it can grow more than 15’ tall in our area, but it is easily managed from the ground and produces bushels of apples. It doesn’t sucker and grows well on a variety of soils and usually doesn’t require staking. It is reported not to perform well when replanted where an apple tree was planted before.
EMLA 27: Maintain at 5-to-8-foot height and width.
Great choice for containers or growing in the ground.
Induces early heavy bearing. Because it’s a mini dwarf, start its first branches one to two feet above the ground. Benefits from staking. Thrives on a variety of soils.
EMLA 111: Maintain at 16-to-20 feet in height.
It has a great fibrous root system, excellent anchorage and does well on wetter soils. It makes a precocious, productive tree. The best candidate for the understock of an interstem tree. We can graft an EMLA 27 piece about six inches long on the EMLA 111 which can later be grafted to your chosen variety. This makes a dwarf tree maybe 10 feet tall, that can start bearing sooner, with the supportive roots of a much larger tree.
MARK: Maintain at 10-to-16-foot height.
Mark is a hardy, precocious dwarfing rootstock that makes a tree about the size of EMLA 26. It has grown well for years for many growers in our region. It is no longer widely available nationwide because it is not drought resistant.
It is well anchored, produces some burr knots at ground level but has heavy crops and shouldn’t be allowed to overbear as a young tree.
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to get it.
Pear
OLD HOME X FARMINGDALE 87 (OHxF 87): Trees can be maintained at 15-to-20 feet tall or even smaller with pruning.
Developed in Oregon, this rootstock is compatible with European and Asian Pears, also with Shipova and with medlars. It seems to be very productive and early bearing. It thrives on a variety of soils and does very well in our region.
Quince
PROVENCE BA29C: Maintain at 15-to-20 feet tall.
Quince is compatible with some pears, including Comice, thus Comice can be used as an interstem.
Cherry
MAZZARD: Maintain at 16-to-30-foot height.
It thrives in our region but this tree can grow to 30 feet or more; keep it smaller with pruning. We were unable to get dwarf cherry rootstock this year.
A dwarfing tart cherry interstem can be used to make a smaller tree.
Plum
Apricots and most almonds are compatible with Mariana rootstock. Some peaches work well on Krymsk I.
MARIANNA 2624: Maintain at 13-to-20 feet in height.
An older rootstock, widely compatible with plums, apricots and most almonds, but not peaches. Makes an excellent tree in our area, best choice in wet soils.
Usually more vigorous than the Krymsk 1, and produces root suckers that need to be cut back each year.
KRYMSK 1: Maintain at 10-to-15 feet in height.
This newer rootstock from Gennady Eremin in Russia has proven reliable for stone fruit growers in the U.S. It is widely compatible with plums, apricots and with some peaches. It does well on a variety of soils and produces some suckers.
Peach
Apricots and Peaches work well on Lovell peach rootstock. Bud grafting peaches onto peach rootstock is done in the summer, it’s not practical in winter. The rootstock can be planted now however, for bud grafting in summer.
LOVELL: Maintain at 10-to-15 feet in height.
A seedling rootstock that does best in well drained soils.
Also compatible with Plums.
