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Are My Rootstocks Still Viable?

cathalmcgcathalmcg Posts: 6
edited August 2019 in Fruit & veg
I ordered some MM106 semi-dwarfing apple rootstocks online I intended to take them from the package and plant them immediately. However due to external factors I was unable to plant the rootstocks for approximately 18 days after I received them :(

During this time they were sealed in the package which was several layers thick and were kept in a cool place. I've recently taken them from the package and planted them using plenty of water to rehydrate the roots.

They do not have any visible damage and there is no smell of mould. Are these rootstocks still viable? 

Posts

  • cathalmcgcathalmcg Posts: 6
    edited September 2019

  • Kitty 2Kitty 2 Posts: 5,150
    Bumping up ⬆ Hope an apple grower sees it cath :)
  • Thanks, I'm eager to know the answer to this
  • TheveggardenerTheveggardener Posts: 1,057
    Sorry can't help, just bumping you up in the hope some can help.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,413
    I have no direct experience of these but if you carefully scratch the bark on one or two of  them if it's green then they are alive! You did the right thing soaking them another soak in dilute liquid seaweed before you plant will help some more. What do you intend to graft on to them ?
    AB Still learning

  • cathalmcgcathalmcg Posts: 6
    edited March 2019
    I've bought 23 varieties of apple scions that I am going to graft onto them. If all goes well I'll have expanded my apple tree number up to about approximately 100, likely not all of them will be successful grafts but I can always try again next year with new scions.
    Checked them by scratching two on the bark, both green underneath so that is a good sign
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,413
    Wow your own orchard and self grafted too! Certainly worth doing as you say you may loose some but I am sure some will take & thrive. Good luck.
    AB Still learning

  • Self grafting yeah to keep costs down, if the grafts fail I can always try the same rootstock after its had a chance to recover from the failed graft.

    I am but a young sprout at 30 as well, so I have a few years ahead to get the job done. Been at it for about 2 years now and have I'd say 20 apple trees. Would have had more but left grafting too late last year due to work commitments. This year I'm getting it done early tho.

    Always had an interest in gardening, but really got into it a few years back, I read the scifi book Dune and that just gave me an appreciation for it making the most of the land we have.
  • Quick followup. I think they all survived, I've grafted them all and the rootstocks are showing leaf growth and while grafting I noticed these things (in the photo) on the under soil portions that I believe to be new roots. :smile:




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