which size to buy?
- Thread starter Mitch
- Start date
j-bird
Well-Known Member
Mitch - I LOVE your avatar! Go cubbies!!!!!
Now to your question. root stock controls essentially 2 things. #1 - how big the tree will get (height and canopy spread) and #2 - how soon the tree will bear fruit. Typically the smaller the tree is the sooner it will bear fruit. I am only familiar with dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard....so i will only refer to those. A dwarf tree will be small - it will fruit faster, but it will be within the reach of deer browsing and won't produce a lot of fruit simply because there isn't room on the tree. Semi-dwarf - these will get bigger and the majority of the limbs will exceed the reach of the deer. They take a little longer to produce, but produce more fruit do to their increased size. I would bet that most habitat guys use semi-dwarf root stocks simply because they are big enough for our needs without being too big and difficult later on. Standard trees are what you tend to see in professional apple orchards. These trees take even longer yet to produce, but produce much more fruit. There are far smarter folks than I here regarding fruit trees - so I am sure they will chime in. I just touched on what little bit I know.
Now to your question. root stock controls essentially 2 things. #1 - how big the tree will get (height and canopy spread) and #2 - how soon the tree will bear fruit. Typically the smaller the tree is the sooner it will bear fruit. I am only familiar with dwarf, semi-dwarf and standard....so i will only refer to those. A dwarf tree will be small - it will fruit faster, but it will be within the reach of deer browsing and won't produce a lot of fruit simply because there isn't room on the tree. Semi-dwarf - these will get bigger and the majority of the limbs will exceed the reach of the deer. They take a little longer to produce, but produce more fruit do to their increased size. I would bet that most habitat guys use semi-dwarf root stocks simply because they are big enough for our needs without being too big and difficult later on. Standard trees are what you tend to see in professional apple orchards. These trees take even longer yet to produce, but produce much more fruit. There are far smarter folks than I here regarding fruit trees - so I am sure they will chime in. I just touched on what little bit I know.
Turkey Creek
Well-Known Member
Standard, because almost no dwarfing root stock exists for peaches. Its not needed anyhow. Peach trees are size controlled by vigorous pruning. Peaches are vigorous growers in anything but the worst soils and climates. No reason to pay extra for fancy words describing their peach trees. The 1/2" whips that are @ 30" to 40" tall have never failed to be 5' tall or better with significant branches by the end of the first growing season. Peach trees are short lived in general compared to most fruit trees. They will likely start producing the 2nd year they are in the ground.
j-bird
Well-Known Member
Well like I said I knew someone smarter than me would chime in and Turkey Creek runs a nursery so I'm sure that is good advice from him.Thanks guys.
J-bird....i'm hoping by changing up my avatar, their bats come alive tonight. I just don't have a good feeling about this deal though. I'm hoping that feeling is just gas or indigestion
Go Cubs Go!
As far as our cubbies go we don't tie the series tonight we are SCREWED!!!! Them boys need to figure out what those sticks of wood are for - Bryant and Baez can't do it all.
