RE: [nafex] Apple Rootstocks for Extreme Cold

["Gord Hawkes" <logcabinorchard@cyberus.ca>]

Seasons Greetings all!  Couple questions regarding the hardiness of
rootstock.  Our orchard is situated just south of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
during the winter of 93/94 we sustained temperatures colder than -30C for
upwards of two weeks.  I believe the average temperature for January and
February was in the neighborhood of -22C.  Our orchard lost over 1,000 trees
which were on M26 rootstock - however it was not the rootstock but rather
the cultivar that was seemingly affected (Spartan, Empire, Vista Bella,
Jersey Macs).  McIntosh, Cortland, Paulareds and Lobos also on M26 faired
well.  We have since planted 350 trees on Ottawa 3 (dwarfing rootstock) and
Beautiful Arcade (Russian seedling semi-standard) - we have not however had
a repeat winter.  We are hopeful that they will be able to sustain most
anything mother nature can throw at them.

Questions

Were the cultivars on the Antonovka the same as on the Ranetka?

Another rootstock that I am interested in is the Bud 9 (Budagovski), a
dwarfing rootstock which appears to show promise for hardiness and dwarfing
size.  Has anyone had experience with Bud 9 with cultivars suitable to zone
5?

Has anyone had experience with the P (Polish - cross between Malling and
Antonovka) series of rootstock?

Is Ranetka a standard rootstock?

Best regards and may your holiday season be joyous!

Gord Hawkes
Log Cabin Orchard
Osgoode, Ontario
Canada, Eh?
www.osgoodevillage.com/logcabinorchard

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernie Nikolai [mailto:Nikolai@v-wave.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 09, 2000 10:38 PM
To: nafex@egroups.com
Subject: [nafex] Apple Rootstocks for Extreme Cold


Nafex member Clair Lammers in Fairbanks, Alaska has an apple orchard of
several hundred apple trees (and some pear, plum, apricot).  He has
experimented with many apple rootstocks, and his real world experiences in a
test winter back a couple of years ago is of significant value to
orchardists in zones 3 and colder.  He experienced a week or more of -40F
and a bit colder, but with only an inch of snow to no snow, depending on
where the wind piled it in his orchard.

All his "hardy" rootstock, ie 100% of the trees on Antonovka died.
About 99% of the trees on Siberian crab survived, and about 95% plus of his
trees on Ranetka (apparently Dolgo crab x Siberian Crab) also survived.

Ranetka seems to make a tree grow faster in cold climates.  From my testing
a two year old tree on Ranetka is as large as a 3 year old tree on Siberian
Crab.  Ranetka seems also to be compatible with more varieties than Siberian
Crab. Lawyer Nurseries in Montana is the only source of this rootstock I've
come across.

While I'm testing many rootstocks, presently we only have about one inch of
snow on the ground, and the temperature this morning was -24C.  I'm glad the
majority of my rootstocks are Ranetka and Siberian in my orchard, as it
eliminates a lot of worry.  I have good confidence in these two rootstocks
down to -40C and zero snowcover.

Bernie Nikolai
Edmonton, Alberta zone 3/2






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