Does anyone know a source of apple SEEDLING dwarf rootstock?

**Terri** · #1 07/25/11, 09:46 AM

I have so very much enjoyed my seedling apple trees, with each tree a different and unexpected flavor.

Alas. the power company wants to replace their poles and their lines, and put up larger and heavier ones. They will be in my back yard for about 5 months *IF* everything goes well. I try not to think about how badly their equipment will compact my heavy clay soil.

At any rate, they will pay me pretty well for the inconvenience but they will cut out pretty much all of my fruit trees. They do have a right of way but what they are wanting to do back there is not really in the contract, so we will sign a new contract and they will pay us, cut out the trees, put in a temporary road, and do the needed work.

So, I wish to replace the seedling apple trees. And, the place where I got them now has a minimum order requirement and I do not want hundreds of trees, just a dozen or so!

The ideal trees for my yard would be a seedling tree (for variety), and dwarf trees (for ease of picking). If I could but seedling trees instead of starting the seeds myself I would shave a couple of years off of the wait for those one-of-a-kind apples!

Any ideas?

Tarheel · #2 07/25/11, 10:01 AM

Terri, I don't know exactly what would grow in your area. I found a gentleman that has more knowledge than anyone I have ever talked to about my orchard. I have ask him several questions about taking care of my trees and he always replies in short order. I am going to extend my orchard next year and am going to get my trees from him if available. I will provide you with the link, I hope it helps. A super nice guy !

http://www.applesearch.org/buy.html

#3 07/25/11, 10:50 AM

This guy is right down the road from me, a good honest man, this page gives his prices for various rootstocks and various size orders. He's pretty easy to talk to, in case you were to have questions.
http://www.centuryfarmorchards.com/r...rootstock.html

Bat Farm · #4 07/25/11, 11:15 AM

The Arbor day foundation has great tree prices. If you join ($10) you get even better prices. They offer almost all of their fruit trees in dwarf. I would add a link but I am on my phone.

**Terri** · #5 07/25/11, 11:25 AM

There are some really great sites on here, but.... They are not for dwarf seedling trees! Mind, I might order some trees from them, but what I am most wanting is the seedling rootstock, not the named trees.

On the good side there are some really great sites listed here, and I will need the named trees also. I may buy from them.

But, is there any place that sells seedling trees?????????

#6 07/25/11, 11:43 AM

The site I gave you for buying rootstock also sells "whips" he has over 400 varieties of apples. The link I posted above is for rootstock only.

**Terri** · #7 07/25/11, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zong

The site I gave you for buying rootstock also sells "whips" he has over 400 varieties of apples. The link I posted above is for rootstock only.

It does, but they are named rootstocks. That means that each MM 111 is identicle to every other root stock. Half of the fun is in discovering what each new kind of apple that the tree will produce.

I have one tree that tastes like a golden delicious, but it is half orange and half yellow. I had another that was absolutely delicious, but it died of cedar apple rust right after it started bearing.

And, each tree was one of a kind. That was what made it so much fun!

#8 07/25/11, 12:16 PM

I thought you were going to take cuttings of your own trees and graft them yourself.
I was planning on doing some air layering myself, just to be doing it, but can't find anybody that wants free fruit trees.

**Terri** · #9 07/25/11, 12:37 PM

I am trying to root cuttings, but they do not look very good. I have never, alas, suceeded with a graft. And, with the temps outside over 100, the weather would be against me.

I THINK that I can keep ONE of the apple trees, but, just one. It gives a bland, VERY juicy apple that is fine for eating fresh, but it is not a good cooker. Still, it is reliable and heavy yeilding, and it is probably my favorite as it bears very well on the lower branches: the one that tastes like a yellow delicious I use a long handled picker to get. The one that I think I get to keep I can enjoy every time I am outside.

bruce2288 · #10 07/25/11, 02:40 PM

terri, You have me a little confused. Seedling trees , as in planting a seed and getting a crosspollinated apple tree of unknown qualities, will not usually be a dwarf tree. Seedling rootstocks are called standard in the business and are a large slow matureing tree. You might look for someplace selling apples for wildlife plantings, they may have seedling trees. The only nursery that I know of that sells standard trees is Vaugh nursery and I do not know if there standard rootstalks are seed grown or cloned.

**Terri** · #11 07/25/11, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce2288

terri, You have me a little confused. Seedling trees , as in planting a seed and getting a crosspollinated apple tree of unknown qualities, will not usually be a dwarf tree.

I was afraid of that: it might be why my own searches have come up with nothing.

I got ONE! dwarf tree from the seedlings that I had origionally planted, and it died of cedar apple rust.

bruce2288 · #12 07/25/11, 03:48 PM

dwarf rootstalks produce a much smaller root mass which limits the tree growth. They are also more prone to drought stress and poorly anchored and need support. If you planted the seeds of these trees yourself, how many years before you got fruit?

olivehill · #13 07/25/11, 04:07 PM

Maybe it's just me, but if the company is demolishing full-grown, producing trees and they are willing to pay for their replacement I would't mail order small seedlings as replacements. I would find a reputable local nursery and price out some good-sized replacement trees. If the company is willing to reimburse you it means they know they are causing quite an inconvenience. Part of that is having to wait many years for fruit again. If you get a more established tree it will not take nearly as long. And I suspect that's what they expect to buy for you, anyway.

**Terri** · #14 07/25/11, 04:53 PM

Actually, they will pay me money, no strings attached. Everybody gets so many cents per square foot of right of way. And, there is more than enough offered to put in more fruit trees.

I am what I am: I want the trees back. So, I will take they money that they are offering me and replace the trees with it. I will probably spread them around more to prevent losing ALL of the trees if they get the desire to build another temporary road, but, SOME trees will be put back there. Otherwise the yard will look VERY strange!!!!!!!!!!!

I am still having trouble finding seedling root stock. I might have to buy more grafted trees than I intended, and then start some seeds myself. I found a site that says to put fresh seeds in damp sand, put the container in a plastic bag to keep it damp, and then put them in the fridge. After 45 days dump them out, plant any seeds that have sprouted, and put the rest back for longer. Check weekly.

I can select for the smallest trees and plant them out. I might get lucky. I WOULD have fun. I love seedling apple trees because you never know what to expect.

olivehill · #15 07/25/11, 04:55 PM

Regardless of WHAT the money is for, my advice stands. I would replace them with the best trees that money can buy.

**Terri** · #16 07/25/11, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruce2288

If you planted the seeds of these trees yourself, how many years before you got fruit?

The origional seedling trees took about 7 years to bear, and I think they were a year old when I got them.

For that matter, if I graft twigs from the seedling trees to bought dwarf trees, I could have one-of-a-kind apples in just 2-3 years. I might not be very lively in 8 more years time!!!!!!!!!!

If I could learn to graft. I HAVE tried, many times. I can try again.

tinknal · #17 07/25/11, 05:17 PM

I always thought all rootstock came from seeds. If not how do they clone rootstock?

**Terri** · #18 07/25/11, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

I always thought all rootstock came from seeds. If not how do they clone rootstock?

I have NO! idea!

tinknal · #19 07/25/11, 06:40 PM

I just did a little research. Apparently rootstock is cloned from existing rootstock. I suppose the good news is that you could clone the rootstock from your existing trees and rather than grafting new scions to it just let it grow.

**Terri** · #20 07/25/11, 06:49 PM

I think I found the dwarf seedling apple that I enjoyed so much.

In an earlier post I mentioned that one of the seedlings was just like a golden delidious, excepting for an orange blush? I know that apples are not supposed to come true from seeds, but obviously that apple has a lot of golden delidious in it.

Well, I was browsing apples and I found a variety that looks exactly like that seedling tree that died soon after it fruited. It looks like the apple, the tree sounds like the apple tree, and unfortunately it sounds as disease suseptable as my tree. http://www.orangepippin.com/apples/rubinette

I waqs browsing here, just because it has a lot or unusual varieties.http://www.raintreenursery.com/searc...=search&page=3