North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Brungardt, Sam (MPCA)" <Sam.Brungardt@state.mn.us>]

I’ve not lived in Kansas for a number of years,  but MM111 is an apple rootstock that is used in Kansas because it is more drought-resistant than many other size-controlling rootstocks.  If you plant apples on dwarfing rootstocks, you should consider possibly staking the trees so they can withstand the strong winds that Kansas gets.  Also, it might be best to provide some sort of supplemental irrigation for dwarfing rootstocks because their roots are not as extensive as seedling or rootstocks that do not dwarf greatly (such as MM111).  By and large, I don’t believe that cold hardiness of apple rootstocks is an issue in Kansas, which lies in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 & 6.

 

The best source of information about rootstock performance in Kansas may be a NAFEX member, a commercial fruit grower, or extension specialist.  While I’m not acquainted with any NAFEX members from Kansas, one commercial operation I’m somewhat familiar with is Reese Fruit Farm, just northeast of Topeka.  These folks and would probaby be happy to visit with you about the rootstocks they use.  Reese and other commercial growers are listed at http://kansasfruitgrowers.org/growers.html  and at http://www.allaboutapples.com/orchard/ks.htm .

 

I don’t know of any KSU Extension publications on the topic, but a KSU extension horticulturist should be happy to advise you or help you find information about rootstocks that are well adapted to Kansas.  And you should be able to go to county extension office and get or order educational materials on growing fruit in Kansas. Here’s some links to some KSU Extension and other publications that it recommends:

Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide http://ohioline.osu.edu/b940/index.html (see newspaper story below)

Small- and Tree-Fruit Cultivars http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf1028.pdf

Midwest Commercial Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/sfg/ID-169-2009.pdf

Fruit Pest Control for Home Gardens http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hort2/c592.pdf

Planning Your Fruit Garden http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/hort2/mf352.pdf  

 

If you live in North Central Kansas, you might find Fruit Tree Cultivars for Nebraska http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2039&context=extensionhist helpful.

 

-- Sam Brungardt, St. Paul, Minn. (USDA Zone 4b)

 

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Fruit-growing Guide Now Online for Midwest Gardeners

Monday, April 19, 2010 :: Staff infoZine

“Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide”

 

Manhattan, KS - infoZine - Starting homegrown vegetables from seed or transplants is one thing. But raising fruit in the back yard is apt to seem more intimidating – perhaps because start-up costs are higher for a perennial raspberry bramble, grape vine or pear tree. Or because achieving good blackberry or apple production can take several years.

“No gardener should ignore the possibilities, though, simply because they think they don’t know enough about home fruit production. Fresh-picked fruit from your own plantings can be a delicious and healthful reward for your efforts. Besides, resources are available to help you be successful,” said Megan Kennelly, plant pathologist with Kansas State University Research and Extension.

The “Midwest Home Fruit Production Guide,” for example, is now available on the Web at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b940/index.html link . Gardeners can consult it online or print out its PDF version.

“The guide is valuable information for anyone in the region who might be interested in growing fruit,” Kennelly said, “which includes backyard gardeners, small-scale market farmers, Extension Master Gardeners, 4-H and FFA members and leaders.

“Overall, this guide is an excellent resource. It covers everything from selecting varieties and preparing a planting site to irrigating through the growing season and managing pests.”

The full-color, spiral-bound, 148-page printed version of the new guide costs $19. It’s available through the ordering site at http://estore.osu-extension.org/ link under product code 940 and/or the book’s name.

“I particularly enjoy the photos, diagrams and charts. They literally can show you how to prune various types of fruiting plants and to identify insects and disease symptoms. They even help you figure the amount of fertilizer to apply,” said Kennelly, who is part of a Midwest, multi-university, fruit working group. She was in discussions with the guide’s Ohio State authors at several stages of its development.

Would-be fruit growers also can get help from any county, district or area Extension office, as well as its affiliated land-grant university, Kennelly added. The contact information for those offices in Kansas is available at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/Map.aspx link . A link to K-State’s horticulture publications and videos, which include a fruits and vegetables section, is at http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/library/DesktopDefault.aspx link .

 

 

From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jwlehman@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 8:38 AM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Scion availability

 

In a message dated 1/14/2011 11:54:10 AM Eastern Standard Time, debs913@gmail.com writes:

If you offer scion wood or know good sources, could you send them on?  She is also wanting to know what rootstocks would be good for central Kansas...so if any members are in that region and would be willing to talk to her, please drop me a note.  Thanks!

Deb Schneider
NAFEX membership chair   

Hi Deb,

Did you get answers?   

Jerry