propagating fruit trees

[Nimrod]

I have fruit trees growing on my current property. I want to start an orchard on my new piece of property. I have room there for lots of trees so I don't want to spend $20, on sale, for each tree. It would break the budget.

I could buy apple rootstock, plant them, and graft scions from the trees I now own. This might cost too much too because the shipping is almost as much as the rootstock. So far in my research I have only seen rootstock for apples.

Another option is that I could take the trimmings from the trees and root them to wind up with new trees. Has anyone done this? How well does it work?

I understand the grafting onto a different variety of root stock can effect the characteristics of the mature tree, including disease resistance and size. Is this more true for certain varieties than others. I have Evans Bali cherry, Ure pear, Golden Spice pear, Toka plumb, Pipestone plumb, Harroldred apple, State Fair apple, and Honeycrisp apple. All have gone through at least 2 winters here in zone 3 and the new piece of land is also in zone 3. These can all be rooted but do some of them live longer and produce better if they are grafted to rootstock?

[K.B.]

Good place to get started looking at quite a few different rootstocks. Nice caliper rootstocks, too, in my experience.
http://www.raintreenursery.com/Rootstocks/

prices are good for small quantities. You can get much better prices elsewhere by buying in lots of 100, but... may not be what you're looking for

[fishhead]

Could you dig up your trees and move them?

[Nimrod]

I only have one of each flavor. I would like to have half a dozen or more of each. On the new piece of land I can fit in as many of each as I want, within reason. I am thinking of putting in 50 of the Honeycrisp because they sell so well. The cheapest route would be rooting cuttings but do I give anything up?

[redneckswife]

2 things come to mind. Definitely don't take the new cutting to be propagated below the trees graft line...or you never know what kind of tree your propagating..

Most fruit and nut variety trees in the US are grafted onto stronger root stock, just as you mentioned, for the disease tolerance and hardiness of the rootstock so any trees you propogate via cuttings may not thrive as well and could be more suspectible to disease &, conditions and wind up not living as long, not being hardy or producing less quality.

Also keep in mind that not all fruit trees are the "newer" self pollinating kind...so be sure that you have something that can cross pollinate it or a male & female version. Their are of course ways to trick mother nature sometimes...such as tying a coffee can with water and some branches of flowering crosspollinators in a tree that doesn't have 1 close.

I have an educational background in Agri...and I have grafted trees using the various methods(tongue & grove is my favorite)..but I'll be honest, to me it's a lot of work and not all the time 100% successful. This is what I like better than the rootings though, as it's hard to get a duplicate tree to be true to the original(hardiness, fruit production,etc.).

Good luck to you and it is fun to try

[LoonyK]

Apple trees are known to be difficult to start from cuttings. If you had more time, the best cheap idea would have been to start them from seed from apples you eat, and use that for rootstock and graft onto those.

[K.B.]

Originally Posted by Nimrod

I only have one of each flavor. I would like to have half a dozen or more of each. On the new piece of land I can fit in as many of each as I want, within reason. I am thinking of putting in 50 of the Honeycrisp because they sell so well. The cheapest route would be rooting cuttings but do I give anything up?

If low/no cost is more important than time, then the rooted cuttings may work well for you. Just factor in the additional time it may take for your trees to start bearing. May not be a big deal.

A compromise could be to buy one of each type of rootstock and instead of immediately using them for grafting, create stooling beds to propagate your own rootstock. Within a few years you will have all the rootstock you need for about any size project.

[am1too]

Originally Posted by Nimrod

I have fruit trees growing on my current property. I want to start an orchard on my new piece of property. I have room there for lots of trees so I don't want to spend $20, on sale, for each tree. It would break the budget.

I could buy apple rootstock, plant them, and graft scions from the trees I now own. This might cost too much too because the shipping is almost as much as the rootstock. So far in my research I have only seen rootstock for apples.

Another option is that I could take the trimmings from the trees and root them to wind up with new trees. Has anyone done this? How well does it work?

I understand the grafting onto a different variety of root stock can effect the characteristics of the mature tree, including disease resistance and size. Is this more true for certain varieties than others. I have Evans Bali cherry, Ure pear, Golden Spice pear, Toka plumb, Pipestone plumb, Harroldred apple, State Fair apple, and Honeycrisp apple. All have gone through at least 2 winters here in zone 3 and the new piece of land is also in zone 3. These can all be rooted but do some of them live longer and produce better if they are grafted to rootstock?

You might also consider air rooting.

[bee]

A note on rootstocks..research them..they will help with determining the size of the grown tree. They will keep your tree in the ground or not if you chose one that is too small for the upper portion of the tree. Some are better suited for colder temps and poorer soils. Some do better with better drainage and others tolerate wetter "feet".

The variety is important but without the proper "feet" it will not thrive and produce. Produce,,, dwarfing footstock give fruit before standard by years in most case