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Rootstocks

Fruit trees are propagated onto rootstocks. The rootstock is the most important factor in determining the vigour and eventual size of the tree. The choice of rootstock is therefore very important as it will determine the suitability of the tree for the position and the form in which you intend to grow it. Please find below a list of rootstocks and their characteristics.

Almond VVA-1,
Almond Adaptabil,
Almond St Julien A,
Almond Krymsk 86,
Almond Brompton,
Apple M27,
Apple M9,
Apple M26,
Apple MM106,
Apple MM111,
Apple M25,
Apricot WA-VIT,
Apricot Torinel,
Apricot Apricor,
Apricot St Julien A,
Apricot Brompton,
Bullace Krymsk 2,
Bullace Pixy,
Bullace VVA-1,
Bullace S-766,
Bullace WA-VIT,
Bullace Adaptabil,
Bullace St Julien A,
Bullace Brompton,
Cherry Gisela 5,
Cherry Krymsk 7,
Cherry Colt,
Cherry F12/1,
Cherry Plum Krymsk 2,
Cherry Plum Pixy,
Cherry Plum VVA-1,
Cherry Plum S-766,
Cherry Plum WA-VIT,
Cherry Plum St Julien A,
Cherry Plum Brompton,
Crab Apple M27,
Crab Apple M9,
Crab Apple M26,
Crab Apple MM106,
Crab Apple MM111,
Crab Apple M25,
Damson Krymsk 2,
Damson Pixy,
Damson VVA-1,
Damson S-766,
Damson WA-VIT,
Damson Adaptabil,
Damson St Julien A,
Damson Brompton,
Japanese Plum St Julien A,
Medlar Quince C,
Medlar Mespilus,
Medlar Quince A,
Medlar Pyrodwarf,
Medlar Crataegus,
Medlar Pyrus,
Nectarine VVA-1,
Nectarine Adaptabil,
Nectarine St Julien A,
Nectarine Krymsk 86,
Nectarine Brompton,
Peach VVA-1,
Peach Adaptabil,
Peach St Julien A,
Peach Krymsk 86,
Peach Brompton,
Pear Quince C,
Pear Quince A,
Pear OHxF87,
Pear Pyrodwarf,
Pear Pyrus,
Plum Krymsk 2,
Plum VVA-1,
Plum S-766,
Plum WA-VIT,
Plum Adaptabil,
Plum St Julien A,
Plum Brompton,
Quince Quince C,
Quince Quince A

Requirements	A new dwarfing rootstock for plums, damsons and peaches. Requires good fertile soil and ground cleared of weeds and grass. Stake for the first 5 years. Requires watering in dry conditions.
Mature height	7-9ft (2-2.7m)
Spread	9ft (2.7m)
Planting distance	8ft (2.5m) apart, 12ft (3.6m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	3 years
Suitable forms	Bush, pyramid, small fan

Requirements	A new rootstock similar in vigour to St Julien A. Suitable for most soil conditions including relatively poor soil and grassed orchards. Good tolernce of both drought and waterlogging. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height	10-15ft (3m-4.5m)
Spread	12ft (3.6m)
Planting distance	12ft (3.6m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4/5 years
Suitable forms	Half standard, bush, fan

Requirements	Suitable for most soil conditions including relatively poor soil and grassed orchards. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height	10-12ft (3-3.6m)
Spread	12ft (3.6m)
Planting distance	12ft (3.6m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4/5 years
Suitable forms	Half standard, bush, fan

Requirements	A new rootstock suitable for peaches, nectarines and almonds. Can be used for most soil conditions including relatively poor soil and grassed orchards. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height
Spread
Planting distance
Mature yield
Bearing age	4/5 years
Suitable forms

Requirements	Good soil conditions. Ground should be clear of weeds and grass. Permanent staking required. Water in dry conditions.
Mature height	4-6ft (1.2-1.8m)
Spread	5ft (1.5m)
Planting distance	4-5 ft (1.2-1.5m) apart, 6ft (1.8m) between rows
Mature yield	10-15lb (4.5-7kg)
Bearing age	2 years
Suitable forms	Dwarf pyramid, centre leader, stepover

Requirements	Can be grown in all reasonable soil conditions including grass orchards. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height	8-10ft (2.4-3m)
Spread	12ft (3.6m)
Planting distance	8-12ft (2.4-3.6m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield	30-80lb (13.5-36kg)
Bearing age	2/3 years
Suitable forms	Bush, pyramid, centre leader, cordon, minaret, espalier, container

Requirements	Suitable for a wide range of soils including grassed orchards and relatively poor soils. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height	10-13ft (3-4m)
Spread	13ft (4m)
Planting distance	12ft (3.6m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield	50-100lb (23-56kg)
Bearing age	3/4 years
Suitable forms	Half standard, bush, cordon, espalier, container

Requirements	A new semi-dwarfing rootstock for plums, damsons, apricots and peaches. Suitable for most soil conditions including relatively dry conditions. Stake for the first 5 years
Mature height	10-13ft (3m-4m)
Spread	11ft (3.3m)
Planting distance	10ft (3m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4 years
Suitable forms	Bush, Half Standard, Fan

Requirements	A new rootstock suitable for apricots. Can be used for most soil conditions including relatively poor soil and grassed orchards. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height	10-12ft (3-3.6m)
Spread	12ft (3.6m)
Planting distance	12ft (3.6m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4/5 years
Suitable forms	Half standard, bush, fan

Requirements	A new apricot rootstock slightly less vigorous than St Julien A. Better compatibility with apricots with alternative rootstocks currently in use which are not apricot.
Mature height	9-11ft (2.7-3.3m)
Spread	11ft (3.3m)
Planting distance	10ft (3m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4 years
Suitable forms	Bush, Half Standard, Fan

Requirements	Requires good fertile soil and ground cleared of weeds and grass. Stake for the first 5 years. Requires watering in dry conditions.
Mature height	8-10ft (2.4-3m)
Spread	10ft (3m)
Planting distance	10ft (3m) apart, 12ft (3.6m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	3 years
Suitable forms	Bush, pyramid, small fan

Requirements	A new semi-dwarfing rootstock for plums. Suitable for most soil conditions including relatively dry conditions. Stake for the first 5 years
Mature height	9-11ft (2.7-3.3m)
Spread	11ft (3.3m)
Planting distance	10ft (3m) apart, 15ft (4.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4 years
Suitable forms	Bush, Half Standard, Fan

Requirements	Good fertile soil. Ground should be cleared of weeds and grass. Staking required for the first 5 years. Very sensitive to systemic herbicides such as Glyphosate the use of which should be avoided around young trees.
Mature height	8-10ft (2.4-3m)
Spread	10ft (3m)
Planting distance	10ft (3m) apart, 12ft (3.6m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	3 years
Suitable forms	Bush, small fan

Requirements	A new cherry rootstock similar in vigour to Colt. Suitable for a wide range of soils including relatively poor soils and grassed orchards. Stake for first 3 years particularly if planted as 2/3 year trees.
Mature height	12-15ft (3-4.5m)
Spread	15ft (4.5m)
Planting distance	15ft (4.5m) apart, 20ft (6.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4/5 years
Suitable forms	Half standard, bush

Requirements	Suitable for most soil conditions. Stake for first 5 years.
Mature height	8-10ft (2.4-3m)
Spread
Planting distance
Mature yield
Bearing age	2/3 years
Suitable forms	Bush, half standard

Requirements	A new semi-vigorous pear rootstock less vigorous than seedling pear. Can be used for most soil conditions including relatively poor soil, chalk and grassed orchards. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height	Over 15ft (5m)
Spread	15ft (4.5m)
Planting distance	15ft (4.5m) apart, 20ft (6m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	4/5 years
Suitable forms	Half Standard

Requirements	Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) is commonly used as a rootstock for medlars. Suitable for a wide range of soils including grassed orchards and relatively poor soils. Stake for the first 5 years.
Mature height	10-12ft (3-3.6m )
Spread	15ft (4.5m)
Planting distance	15ft (4.5m) apart, 20ft (6.5m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age	3/4 years
Suitable forms	Bush, half standard

Requirements
Mature height	12ft-15ft (up to 4m)
Spread
Planting distance	15ft (4.5m) apart, 20ft (6m) between rows
Mature yield
Bearing age
Suitable forms

Rootstocks

Almond VVA-1 (Dwarfing )

Almond Adaptabil (Semi-vigorous )

Almond St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Almond Krymsk 86 (Semi-vigorous )

Almond Brompton (Very vigorous )

Apple M27 (Very dwarfing )

Apple M9 (Dwarfing )

Apple M26 (Semi-dwarfing )

Apple MM106 (Semi-vigorous )

Apple MM111 (Vigorous )

Apple M25 (Very vigorous )

Apricot WA-VIT (Semi-dwarfing )

Apricot Torinel (Semi-dwarfing )

Apricot Apricor (Semi-dwarfing )

Apricot St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Apricot Brompton (Very vigorous )

Bullace Krymsk 2 (Dwarfing )

Bullace Pixy (Semi-dwarfing )

Bullace VVA-1 (Dwarfing )

Bullace S-766 (Semi-dwarfing )

Bullace WA-VIT (Semi-dwarfing )

Bullace Adaptabil (Semi-vigorous )

Bullace St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Bullace Brompton (Very vigorous )

Cherry Gisela 5 (Semi-dwarfing )

Cherry Krymsk 7 (Semi-vigorous )

Cherry Colt (Semi-vigorous )

Cherry F12/1 (Very vigorous )

Cherry Plum Krymsk 2 (Dwarfing )

Cherry Plum Pixy (Semi-dwarfing )

Cherry Plum VVA-1 (Dwarfing )

Cherry Plum S-766 (Semi-dwarfing )

Cherry Plum WA-VIT (Semi-dwarfing )

Cherry Plum St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Cherry Plum Brompton (Very vigorous )

Crab Apple M27 (Very dwarfing )

Crab Apple M9 (Dwarfing )

Crab Apple M26 (Semi-dwarfing )

Crab Apple MM106 (Semi-vigorous )

Crab Apple MM111 (Vigorous )

Crab Apple M25 (Very vigorous )

Damson Krymsk 2 (Dwarfing )

Damson Pixy (Semi-dwarfing )

Damson VVA-1 (Dwarfing )

Damson S-766 (Semi-dwarfing )

Damson WA-VIT (Semi-dwarfing )

Damson Adaptabil (Semi-vigorous )

Damson St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Damson Brompton (Very vigorous )

Japanese Plum St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Medlar Quince C (Dwarfing )

Medlar Mespilus (Semi-dwarfing )

Medlar Quince A (Semi-dwarfing )

Medlar Pyrodwarf (Semi-vigorous )

Medlar Crataegus (Semi-dwarfing )

Medlar Pyrus (Very vigorous )

Nectarine VVA-1 (Dwarfing )

Nectarine Adaptabil (Semi-vigorous )

Nectarine St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Nectarine Krymsk 86 (Semi-vigorous )

Nectarine Brompton (Very vigorous )

Peach VVA-1 (Dwarfing )

Peach Adaptabil (Semi-vigorous )

Peach St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Peach Krymsk 86 (Semi-vigorous )

Peach Brompton (Very vigorous )

Pear Quince C (Dwarfing )

Pear Quince A (Semi-dwarfing )

Pear OHxF87 (Semi-vigorous )

Pear Pyrodwarf (Semi-vigorous )

Pear Pyrus (Very vigorous )

Plum Krymsk 2 (Dwarfing )

Plum VVA-1 (Dwarfing )

Plum S-766 (Semi-dwarfing )

Plum WA-VIT (Semi-dwarfing )

Plum Adaptabil (Semi-vigorous )

Plum St Julien A (Semi-vigorous )

Plum Brompton (Very vigorous )

Quince Quince C (Dwarfing )