North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["tanis cuff" <tanistanis@hotmail.com>]

Very well said, and I see the same thing.  That's why I always try to plant 
out rootstocks into a nursery row for a year before grafting.  If they die, 
oh well.  If they grow slower than the majority, they get grafted the second 
year.


----Original Message Follows----
From: sherwindu <>
To: nafex
Subject: [NAFEX] Importance of Rootstock Root Condition
Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 21:46:46 -0600

There is a lot of discussion going around people I know who have done
extensive grafting.  They maintain that a rootstock (usually apple) that has 
a few
scraggly roots attached has an equal chance of both surviving and supporting 
a
scion grafted onto it, than an identical variety with plentiful roots 
attached.  I
have lost several rootstocks of this condition either during the same
season of purchase, or the following year.  They were handled properly,
put into pots, watered, and dug into my garden bed for the winter.  Most
of them did not survive nor did any of the scions take. I also feel that
my grafting success rate may be lessened by this kind of rootstock.  I
welcome the experiences of others on this matter.