Apple trees

[homesteadingnky]

Anyone here know where I can find "Malling 9 root stock"? A dwarf root stock for apple trees. Also, we're looking at starting an orchard this year. Any body have advice for starting an orchard in zone 6? I'd appreciate any help given!

Thanks!
Homesteading Dad

[kawalekm]

Hi HD
Here's a website that sells rootstock.
http://www.onegreenworld.com//index.php?cPath=3_79
They only sell M-26 and M-7 rootstocks, but maybe one of them would closely fit your needs.

I am grafting also, but just use standard seedling stock started from store-bought fruit. I may have more pruning work in the future, but standard stock is supposed to be more drought and cold hardy.
Michael

[jott]

I have grafted a good number of trees, but one place you mite want to look for trees is walmart. Last 2 years in a row they had a large section of about 5 different kinds of apples, and many other kinds of fruit trees. They where about $25 each but come june what was still there want for 7.99. The trees were a good 4 ½ to 5 foot tall, they did need some care being planted so late and from spending so much time in pots in a walmart parking lot, but they still had a one year warranty on them if they died. They seem to be doing as well as any I grafted myself. Some better I have a hard time getting trees to start out well hard to keep the deer form eating them off.

Only problem I saw with them was they were repotted at some point and the graft was under the dirt so I had to dig that out and plant them higher.

Just an idea that mite save you some work

[homesteadingnky]

I've planted some trees just like those at Wal Mart that I got from Lowes 5-6 years ago. They're descent trees but take a while to produce fruit. The Malling 9 are a true dwarf and must be staked for the life of the tree. However, they start producing in just 2-3 years and produce pretty heavy and very managable yeilds. Thanks for the info though!