RE: Bare Root Fruit Trees! Why... and where to order!
@rawutah, I will gracefully disagree. Yes, a bare root is so much better then a potted tree. You are 100% correct but there is another option that is so much better. Let me explain. I planted 12 fruit trees all bare root of which in 5 years 5 have been replaced and the other 5 are diseased. I have been working hard to save them. Where I live there are tons of orchards. I recently discovered that the trees that grow disease free(more or less) are trees from long ago that started from seed. I found out that trees planted bare root or not will not develope a tap root. Also trees over the last 30 plus years are grafted on a rootstock of a supposedly hardy tree and is not always the same that is grafted too. Before grafting and selling trees like this trees survived so much better then today. Today at least where I live there are so many health issues with trees. So this fall, I planted several seeds in one spot so it can pop up in the spring and then choose the strongest one to allow to grow. The benefit of buying a 2-year-old grafted bare root tree is of no good if after 1-3 years the tree dies. So why not start from seed and have a tree that could last 100 years? Maybe not all areas have the issues we ahve but I still found it surprising how these 80 year old trees produce so well with no care yet trees of today do so poorly.
Hi @gardengranny !!!! :) Thanks for your insight and perspective....you could be right on all of your points. It's perhaps good to have a WIDE VARIETY of options as a gardener. I haven't witnessed what you have as far as no tap root. I've only been doing this about 10 years though. None of my bare root trees have been sick or die as you've described. but..i'm aware of the potentials....and many variables. this is the info from dave's site as far as advantages and disadvantages of certain root stocks. http://www.davewilson.com/product-information-general/rootstock/comparisons
for me...i enjoy trying all methods and theories!!!! so i did just that...about 12 years ago. i ate a peach and and apple and grew them into large trees. they are very happy trees....and produce wonderfully every year...but their fruit tastes nothing like the parents they came from. the peach is mealy...and not sweet. the apples are small...and very tart. i have decade old bare root trees also that are doing quite well...after all this time. so for me...that's my answer to your question as to why not start from seed. the wide variability of offspring. the phenotypic and chemotypic expressions. doesn't mean you won't hit the genetic lottery and get a real winner lol! it's why i went for it and grew from seed. my friend @gardeningchannel also started apples from seed which grew into small tart apples he calls the prigioni apple. :)) perhaps it comes down to personal opinion...and what amount of time a grower has to commit to seeing and tasting the results. so for me ...i am looking for specific traits in my trees...that i can expect...and repeat year to year. for new growers...if i suggest they grow from seed...they may get good results...and they may not. same with bare root. so many variables. i personally don't recommend a new fruit tree grower start from seed...but that's just little ol' me. :) thanks for stopping by granny. :)
....ps ...perhaps the best root stock...is growing the trees out from seed....and using them as root STOCK...trees...to graft upon. ;) that's how i'm now using my trees i grew from seed.
That is an awesome idea @rawutah, something I have been considering as well. The rootstalk is now established. One can graft to it. I do not remember the %'s but I think it is something like 50% chance to grow the parent, 25% to grow one or the other variety that created the parent. So it is important to know what went into developing the fruit you enjoy. Of course with any trees, I believe in proper pruning. Dropping the fruit the first 3 years so the tree can establish itself and then allow it to grow the fourth year while dropping fruit in areas of abundant growth on a thin branch. I continue to prune and drop fruit so the fruit that grows is at its best and is not hard on the tree. I am a noob and still learning. I do tons of research and experimenting. It is the only way to learn. Love sharing ideas with like minded people so thank you so much for sharing with me. <3
hey gardengranny...looks like you already found Ini and Wren... @mountainjewel. i'll post their link here for others. they are growing fruit trees from bare root, grafting..and collecting wild specimens and fruit...to eat and grow!!!!!!!! paw paw IMO is such a great example of wild fruit.... that can taste AMMMMAZING...when left alone...to continue creating new offspring in large numbers. here they are collecting wild paw paw in Missouri. eatin' and poopin/spreadin' seeds across the land ....food forests lol!!! a