Looking for info on dwarf fruit trees

[DoubleDogFarm]

You can add Yellow Transparent to the mealy mushy list. My parents had a Yellow Transparent and a Thompson king in their back yard. The King is a good, big, firm apple.

Eric

[wordwiz]

I hate to get back on topic, it seems almost un-forum like(!), but I really did start this thread to get advice on raising these. Raintree Nursery wrote back to me and suggested maybe buying from someplace else, since their trees will take a year or two to produce fruit, which may not look great for a Demonstration Project. While I really appreciate Katy's caring, I knew it would be at least 2012 or 2013 before I get a single piece of fruit.

One thing I did try to learn about was the different type of rootstocks and what they mean for my area. Who would have thunk it made any difference!

Any advice that will HELP ME?

Mike

[applestar]

Hmm... I thought I DID give advice that would help.
What else do you want to know?

[wordwiz]

Hmm... I thought I DID give advice that would help.
What else do you want to know?

AS,

You sort of did but it was stuff I can find (and did). I guess I'm looking for stuff that only growers would know that I should know:

Personally, I like ordering from nurseries that are closer geographically and climatically to my own garden. Shipping distance unless you're willing to pay for premium faster shipping, and adapted winter hardiness and weather conditions.

I've searched as many sites as I can and Raintree seems to offer the best trees, based on size, rootstock and other factors.

I look for disease resistant cultivars, based on locally prevalent diseases.

Alas, not many growers around here to ask info from. Plus, a big big plus, I don't have a clue what to ask. It's the ole "it's what you don't know to ask about that will hurt you" syndrome!

Finaly, study the root stock information, and call and ask if not listed. JONAS recently posted some info on that.

Root stocks can not only affect mature size but also varies in ability to handle soil conditions. Also some ROOTSTOCKS are more disease resistant or more susceptible.

This part, I have been researching and trying to learn.

Treat me like a kid that is trying to learn everything possible - from how deep and when to plant, staking, watering, how long to expect fruit to appear, other things I have not thought to ask. You will not insult my lack of intelligence!

Mike

[applestar]

In NJ Rutgers State Ag Extension Svc posts bulletins on their website with recommended disease resistant fruits. I'm sure your state has similar program and publications.

There are many srcs of info, but I learned a lot from Adams County Nursery website. They're located in Pa. and potentially a good source, but they have minimum order that was too much and I havent purchased from them.

I have purchased from Starks Bros., Edible Landscaping, and MILLER nurseries with good results. But there are other sources that have more specific root stock choices if that is important to you.

I have
Enterprise, Pristine, Ark Black apples
Magness and Seckel pears
Emperor Francis and White Gold sweet cherries
Carolina Belle peach
And a nectarine name that I can't remember right now
Prok persimmon
Triple Crown thornless blackberry
Kiwi Gold raspberry
To name a few.
Planning to get North Star pie cherry next