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Rootstocks - At the Bottom of Every Good Apple
Nearly all apple trees sold in New Zealand are grafted or budded onto rootstocks. Rootstocks are represented on the plant label or in the plant description by a series of letters and numbers.You could be forgiven for thinking that this is a secret horticultural code and I guess to the uninitiated it is just that.So what do the numbers actually mean and where do they come from?

Nearly all of the apple rootstocks used today were researched and selected by the Pomologists^ (don't you love that word) at East Malling Research Station in England.Their work goes back to the 1900's where they studied heritage apples that had been in use for many centuries in Europe.Each important apple or clone was given a number preceded by an M to represent Malling.Work was also done with the John Innes institute at Merton and the Long Ashton Research station so these rootstocks were represented either by MM for Malling-Merton or EMLA for East Malling-Long Ashton.See its not that complicated at all.The research centre continues to play a significant role in horticultural development today.

Rootstocks determine the eventual size of the tree and how the tree responds to growing conditions.Except for very dwarf fruit trees the rootstock does not affect the actual size of the fruit. The rootstock begins at the bottom of the tree with; you guessed it, the roots and then grows to form the lower part of the tree, forming about 20cm of the main trunk.The scion i.e. variety of apple is then grafted or budded on to the rootstock and forms the rest of the tree determining what type of apple (Royal Gala, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious etc) that you will be munching on.There is usually quite a distinctive line where the 2 are joined together in growing harmony.It is very important when planting your apple tree that this join is visible above ground.Any growth that appears below the join should be rubbed or cut off as soon as it appears.Rootstocks do not impact on pollination - apples are generally self fertile however they will generally crop better with a closely planted companion.

Guide to size and performance of Apple Rootstocks
Special Note ... this is for your information to help you select the tree that best suits your environment, we do not sell rootstock.



Code
MM111
Average Height
5m
Characteristics
Rugged and robust. Resistant to Woolly Aphid. Forms a large tree which needs plenty of space.

Code
MM106^^
Average Height
3.5m
Characteristics
Semi-Dwarf, High Yielding, Strong Roots - doesn't generally need staking, vigorous and tolerant.Resistant to Woolly Aphid.

Code
MM102
Average Height
2.5 -3m
Characteristics
Semi-Dwarf, Productive. Resistant to Woolly Aphid.

Code
M26
Average Height
2.5m
Characteristics
Dwarf, Needs to be staked to avoid wind rock and therefore root damage. Can be grown in a container. Fruits early in the tree life. Prefers well drained soils.

Code
M9
Average Height
2m
Characteristics
Sometimes called Paradise root stock.Hardy, tolerant of wet conditions but not drought. Fruits at a young age. Must be staked. Suitable for containers.

Code
M27
Average Height
1.5m
Characteristics
Very dwarf, needs full support. Doesn't need pruning.Suitable for containers.Fruit and crop size slightly compromised because of dwarf characteristics.


^ A Pomologist is the technical name for a fruit scientist and comes from the Latin word for Fruit ‘pomum’.
^^Most Apple trees grown in New Zealand are grafted on to MM106 root stocks.

Apples- from the bottom up they're good to the core.


Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: