I've got round to asking a chap down the road if I can have some
cuttings from his cooker (not gas or eclectic...) and I take them
tomorrow. It's a very old tree, and the apples are *VAST* - around the
size of a Charles Ross, but the wrong shape for that apple.

Also, am taking cuttings from a rootstock tree - so:

Anyone tried this? (I haven't a tree I can graft or bud onto)

Do they take better from old wood, or last year's growth?

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
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"Rusty Hinge 2" wrote in message
k...
I've got round to asking a chap down the road if I can have some
cuttings from his cooker (not gas or eclectic...) and I take them
tomorrow. It's a very old tree, and the apples are *VAST* - around the
size of a Charles Ross, but the wrong shape for that apple.

Also, am taking cuttings from a rootstock tree - so:

Anyone tried this? (I haven't a tree I can graft or bud onto)

Do they take better from old wood, or last year's growth?

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
Separator in search of a sig
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cuttings are not recommended. If they strike then they will have
lost the growth habits of the parent tree and will probably grow on for
years without fruiting.
Cuttings from rootstocks take more readily and can be grafted, budded
or chipped a year later. Bought rootstocks could be budded this summer.
Last year's growth will root most readily.
Having said the above there is a West Country costard that roots
readily from any wood and actually produces aerial roots on lower branches
and fruits the next year from large cuttings.
I don't find Charles Ross a 'Vast' apple~~ some can be twice the size
but non-commercial.
Best Wishes Brian.

The message
from "Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond contains these words:

Cuttings are not recommended. If they strike then they will have
lost the growth habits of the parent tree and will probably grow on for
years without fruiting.
Cuttings from rootstocks take more readily and can be grafted, budded
or chipped a year later. Bought rootstocks could be budded this summer.
Last year's growth will root most readily.

Ta. I'll root the lot and graft or bud onto the rootstock cuttings. I
want too many to think about buying even bare-rooted rootstock. (Making
a hedge out of fruit trees, a cross between cordons and laying.)

Having said the above there is a West Country costard that roots
readily from any wood and actually produces aerial roots on lower branches
and fruits the next year from large cuttings.

Hmmm.

Want!

I don't find Charles Ross a 'Vast' apple~~ some can be twice the size
but non-commercial.

Well, the two Charles Ross trees we had in the garden when I was an
anklebiter had apples which were up to six inches across. These cookers
are almost as large and on a very old and neglected tree.

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/...en/apples4.jpg
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/...en/apples1.jpg

Those are by no means the largest specimens.

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
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Rusty Hinge 2 wrote:
The message
from "Brian" --- 'flayb' to respond contains
these words:
[...]
Having said the above there is a West Country costard that
roots readily from any wood and actually produces aerial roots on
lower branches and fruits the next year from large cuttings.

Hmmm.

Want!

Me too! Brian, don't leave us in suspense.


I don't find Charles Ross a 'Vast' apple~~ some can be twice the
size but non-commercial.

Well, the two Charles Ross trees we had in the garden when I was an
anklebiter had apples which were up to six inches across. These
cookers
are almost as large and on a very old and neglected tree.

http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/...en/apples4.jpg
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/...en/apples1.jpg

Those are by no means the largest specimens.

Ugly buggers. Hope they taste good.

--
Mike.

The message
from "Mike Lyle" contains these words:

Those are by no means the largest specimens.

Ugly buggers. Hope they taste good.


They do, both as slightly tart eaters, and cookers, where they render
rather like Bramleys.

The cavities in the core are large and open, making it very easy to
remove the fingernaily bits and leave the flesh between them - no waste
- just the pips, the stalk, a small pile of hard flakes instead of the
core, and if you don't eat it, the skin.

My plan (ATM) is to get one bare root rootstock tree and bud and/or
graft some on to it, and some other favoured varieties to make a family
tree, and with the others, grow the cuttings on and if necessary graft
them onto rootstock cuttings, and replace an unkempt Lonicera hedge with
fruit trees, in an arrangement somewhere between cordons and layering.

I've a Hunza apricot to go in it, and there will be more, I hope.

AnnIwanna quince.

--
Rusty
Direct reply to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co period uk
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Can't say I am a fan of family trees, why, because they are a
compromise of growth habits with regards to the sion.
IMHO, far better to graft onto M106 / M111 rootstock and grow as
cordons, either angled, doubles or as veticals.
If you have a spare rootstock, a good way of propogating is to mound
layer, that is cover the rootstock with compost in a mound, and where
the shoots are new woody shoots will develop which inturn can be used
as propogating material. Have seen this done on an intesive scale.
As you are further south than me rusty, I guess you apricots may fair
ok. Here they are a semi greehouse plant.

What ever - a fruit hedge has to be admired. An excellent choice.
Regards
Clifford
Bawtry, Doncaster, South Yorks. on the scounge for graft wood, hoping
to graft yet more apple trees.