Goldentriangle
Active Member
Does anybody have any experience with this cultivar? Just curious if it is a good selection for wildlife.
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Wolf River????
- Thread starter Goldentriangle
- Start date
dogdoc
Well-Known Member
My one wolf river was planted 4 years ago. Developed a blight canker below the lowest scaffold. Tip growth above the canker was struggling. I cut the tree in attempt to save the roots. I grafted 2 Enterprise scions last year but they failed. It now has a single branch that has shot up just above the original graft so I am giving the wolf river another chance. I wouldn't plant another one.
Wild Thing
Member
I planted 4 or 5 Wolf River trees in a 20-tree orchard about 22 years ago. I have 2 of them left. I have only 1 of the other 18 original trees left in that orchard (a flowering crabapple) so I guess that does say something about their survivability. I had caged all of these trees with 72" high, 2"X4" welded wire fencing in a 5' diameter around all of these trees. Eventually, of course I had to remove the cages. Initially the deer browsed and broke most of the lower branches they could reach but eventually we got beyond the deer. What we could not get beyond were the black bears. They have a propensity for climbing the trees and breaking the branches down so they can feed on the apples while on the ground. 17 of the original 20 apple trees could not survive that type of punishment.
Here is a photo I took this morning after planting a couple of apple trees in that same orchard. One of the Wolf River trees is in the background. As you can see, it was down to only one main branch at one time but has come back pretty well since then. The other WR tree looks very similar.
They have huge apples when they produce but I have found that they never produced as well as many other varieties I have planted. I have probably planted about 60 other apple trees since I planted the first orchard and have not planted any more Wolf Rivers - I think primarily because other varieties have just done better at apple production. I have to say though that these Wolf Rivers have done well to survive the bears. I also have to say that I saw a number of Wolf River trees on a neighboring farm several years ago and those trees were very prolific producers ... so maybe it is just my dirt.
Here is a photo I took this morning after planting a couple of apple trees in that same orchard. One of the Wolf River trees is in the background. As you can see, it was down to only one main branch at one time but has come back pretty well since then. The other WR tree looks very similar.
They have huge apples when they produce but I have found that they never produced as well as many other varieties I have planted. I have probably planted about 60 other apple trees since I planted the first orchard and have not planted any more Wolf Rivers - I think primarily because other varieties have just done better at apple production. I have to say though that these Wolf Rivers have done well to survive the bears. I also have to say that I saw a number of Wolf River trees on a neighboring farm several years ago and those trees were very prolific producers ... so maybe it is just my dirt.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Even though I haven't grown Wolf River, I have read the fireblight horror stories on different forums over the last few years.
But, I have also read the glowing, wonderful stories of olden days.
This leads me to believe that Wolf River is one of those apples that would fall into a group of other apples I have seen. They are marginally acceptable trees when grown as full sized trees, and worthy of growing and propagating. However, when you grow them on semi dwarfing or dwarfing rootstock, you tip the scales on them. I had a very long and very informative thread on the old forum that went into detail about this phenomenon, along with the scientific proof of what once was a hypothesis on my part, but turned out to be a proven fact.
I could go through all of the yada yada yada again about that again, but I'm still gloating about being right the first time. So, just take my word for it, because it is true.
Personally, I would never plant one, because there are just too many other choices that are much better. I do have a very small one that someone gave me, which was planted last year. In about two more years it is getting topworked. I see no reason to let it grow when it will be so easy to change to a better apple.
Best Wishes in choosing your apples.
But, I have also read the glowing, wonderful stories of olden days.
This leads me to believe that Wolf River is one of those apples that would fall into a group of other apples I have seen. They are marginally acceptable trees when grown as full sized trees, and worthy of growing and propagating. However, when you grow them on semi dwarfing or dwarfing rootstock, you tip the scales on them. I had a very long and very informative thread on the old forum that went into detail about this phenomenon, along with the scientific proof of what once was a hypothesis on my part, but turned out to be a proven fact.
I could go through all of the yada yada yada again about that again, but I'm still gloating about being right the first time. So, just take my word for it, because it is true.
Personally, I would never plant one, because there are just too many other choices that are much better. I do have a very small one that someone gave me, which was planted last year. In about two more years it is getting topworked. I see no reason to let it grow when it will be so easy to change to a better apple.
Best Wishes in choosing your apples.
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I have one I planted about 6 years ago on my lawn. The nursery told me it was on full size rootstock, not even going to try to spell it! It has grown really well and "looks" nice but I wasnt familiar about pruning etc when I planted it so it has 3-4 big leaders Just cant bring myself to hack them off and basically start over! So far no blight, hope Im not jinxing myself by saying that now!
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
I bet that full size rootstock with the crazy name was "Antonovka." Dang Russians have their noses into everything these days.
I will make a prediction on your trees: You will see no fire blight on those trees until they start flowering. Then you will see it, but the older and larger the trees get the effects will be less severe. You will get apples, and you will always have at least some FB in years that it is bad. And, In other years, you will see little if any.
Tell me in a few years if I was right or not...............................
I have two Wolf River trees on B118 rootstock that are part of an orchard of about 75 trees that were planted in 2012. Most of the trees includng the Wolf River yielded fruit last fall. From my observations, I would rate Wolf River low as a tree for wildlife. There are just so many varieties that are better, I could easily name over a dozen varieties that are much better because of disease resistance, yield, drop time, etc. If you have room for a large number of trees it wouldn't hurt to put in a few Wolf River for variety but if you are only planting a few and they are solely for wildlife, I would not recommend them.
I bet that full size rootstock with the crazy name was "Antonovka." Dang Russians have their noses into everything these days.
I will make a prediction on your trees: You will see no fire blight on those trees until they start flowering. Then you will see it, but the older and larger the trees get the effects will be less severe. You will get apples, and you will always have at least some FB in years that it is bad. And, In other years, you will see little if any.
Tell me in a few years if I was right or not...............................
Yes that is definitely the rootstock but I wasnt sure how to spell it and didnt want to create a roar of laughter here over my spelling ability!!
So far the tree is quite large and havent seen any.......YET.
This wasnt planted for wildlife, its on my lawn for us so Im hoping it will do well. I has had just a few apples here and there the past couple years but as I said, pruning wasnt done early on so its not prime.
Wild Thing
Member
Have you got a pollinator planted nearby dtabor? Another apple or flowering crabapple would maybe help...
Goldentriangle
Active Member
Gentlemen thanks for the replies. I will be crossing Wolf River off my list of possibles. I have been planting pears and persimmon for the last two years. I think I may start with crab apples next, all my trees are for hunting purposes so access to the trees for maintenance can be a lil' tricky.
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