Very few apple trees in plantations and private gardens are seedlings grown from cores. Normally, yielding varieties are propagated by copulating branches onto a growing base.
What rootstock is used for the apple tree?
A rootstock for the apple tree is a root and trunk system onto which a scion of a proven apple variety is grafted. Common growing bases are M9, M27 or seedlings grown from cores. They influence the growth, yield and nutrient supply of the tree.
Maintaining the desired properties of a proven apple tree
Since the pollen of another tree is necessary for the pollination of an apple tree, each kernel also contains the genetic information of two different parent plants. In order to be able to transfer the properties of a specific tree to a young seedling, it is necessary to graft a so-called scion onto a suitable growing base. Growth bases such as:are suitable as a base for an apple tree.
- the M9, which is often recognizable by a thickening on the trunk
- the M27, which is popular in commercial cultivation
- privately used seedlings from kernels
Desired properties of a rootstock for the apple tree
The purpose of using a rootstock as a root and trunk system for a scion is, on the one hand, to propagate a proven tree without changing the genetic properties. However, modern growth bases for apple trees also take changing requirements into account: rootstocks such as M9 are usually rather slow-growing, which means that limited height growth is achieved and thus makes harvesting easier. Nevertheless, apple rootstocks have relatively strong root growth in order to be able to supply even heavily fruiting varieties with sufficient water and nutrients.
Attach a scion to a base yourself
In order to use a home-grown apple seedling as a base for an apple tree, despite its rather unpredictable growth characteristics, the tree crown must be separated from the actual trunk below its branching point. Either a scion or a bud of the desired apple variety, known as a noble eye, is then copulated onto the trunk, which is cut off at an angle depending on the technique used. The affected area is then protected from external influences with a suitable wound closure agent for plants (€7.00 on Amazon), otherwise there is a risk of disease or fungal infestation.
Tips & Tricks
Saplings grown from seeds carry the genetic material of two apple trees and are therefore rather unpredictable in their growth. Nevertheless, they can be used in the hobby garden as a base for the scion of an apple variety.
