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Apple tree cuttings
Mountainranger
Posts: 37
in Fruit & veg
I want to do some hardwood apple tree cuttings. What is the best way to go about this? Is sand a good idea for getting them rooted. Once rooted when can I plant them out in position? Will they be ready to plant by mid summer?
how would you do apple tree cuttings?
0
Posts
The best way to propagate apple trees is to graft a cutting onto a rootstock. If you root a cutting direct into the ground you're likely to get a tree which will grow 30ft tall or more and put all its energy into this growth rather than fruiting.
The best thing to do is to get a dwarfing rootstock which will restrict the tree's growth to a reasonable height and width suitable for your needs (there are different types which restrict to different degrees) and graft your cutting onto the rootstock.
There is some information here https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=443 . There are others on this forum who have far more experience in grafting than I do - hopefully they'll see this thread and contribute
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It is very difficult for an amateur to propagate an apple from cuttings, they are very difficult to root. What you could try is layering a small branch, which will give you a clone of the tree, but you will end up with a very big tree. Better to graft as recommended by Dovefrom above.
In my college days we were taught that as apples are nigh on impossible to root ( and, as explained above, need to be grafted onto a rootstock to determine the growth of the tree) it isn't done. Commercially, the rootstocks were produced by stooling or layering, and these are then used for grafting.
I would be interested to know whether anyone has ever grown their own rootstocks.
How long does it take for a root stock to develop from stooling?
Bramley Apple tree cuttings can most definitely be rooted as this has been done, lately.
I took note that difficult cuttings to root should be Irish cuttings with a heel. I got three out of seven cuttings to root. These three rooted cuttings are growing vigorously as they are on their own root same as the original Southall - Nottinghamshire 'Bramley' which was a seedling tree from a pip. That tree is about 200 years old now & still produces fruit. On it's own root it is very vigorous and grows to around 30 ft. Bramleys look a picture when in flower and can be completely covered in white/pink blossom in the springtime.
Hands down it is said to be the best cooking apple in the world & I personally have yet to eat
another apple pie that beats or even comes near the Bramley....... Oh that fluffy pulp -delicious!