Order Rootstock for 2027
Attending a grafting workshop is one of the principal educational benefits of being a fruit explorer. We will NOT have extras of most of these roots at the workshops so order 2 or 3 times as many trees as you think you have space for. This increases the probability of your success and is an inexpensive means to becoming an experienced grafter. Any surplus of successfully grafted trees make truly unique gifts. Even the unsuccessfully grafted trees are useful for learning about summer budding in July or August.
ONLY CURRENT MEMBERS CAN PRE-ORDER ROOTSTOCKS.
NOTE: Those new to grafting are encouraged to select apple or pear roots. Apples and pears are the easiest to graft and will more likely lead to success.
Apple
- M27: Very dwarfing apple rootstock. Can be kept to ~6 feet. Requires permanent support of stake or trellis. Shallow roots. Should be watered if there is drought.
- GENEVA 214: Develops into a tree about 35% of standard at maturity. Highly resistant to fire blight and Phytophthora. Requires staking.
Pear
- QUINCE BA29C: Precocious. About 50% of standard at maturity. Compatible with quince and many (but not all) European pears. List of compatible pear varieties will be available at the workshop. Not compatible with Asian pears. Somewhat susceptible to fire blight.
- OHXF87: Compatible with European and Asian varieties. About 70% – 80% of standard pear tree size at maturity. Semi-dwarfing for Asian varieties. Resistant to fire blight.
Plum
- Mariana 2624: Semi-dwarfing, about 12 – 15 ft. Tolerant of heavy soil. Good compatibility with plums, apricots, and pluots. Incompatible with peaches and nectarines.
Cherry
- Krymsk 6: About 60% of standard at maturity. Tolerant of heavy soils. Compatible with sweet and sour cherries. Krymsk 6 roots are too small to graft in spring but may be bud grafted in summer. If Krymsk 6 is unavailable then Mahaleb roots will be substituted.
- Stone fruit (plum, cherry) are typically grafted in warmer weather. We offer the roots here for those who will take them home and graft or bud later. Beginning grafters are more likely to have success grafting apple and pear.
Members can order rootstock for 2027 HERE.
Rootstocks must be ordered by the end of the day on October 31, 2026 so that orders for 2027 can be sent to vendors before their stocks are depleted.
***** All orders submitted will be available for pick-up in March, 2027 at the MidFEx Grafting Workshop held annually at the CBG. Rootstock MUST be picked up at the Grafting workshop.