French rootstock/grafting????

[Nicos]

Anyone know how the French classify different type of rootstock??
I've asked a few gardeners and they look at me as if I've grown 2 heads

They also tend to graft higher up- sometimes in 2 different places....just wondering what the middle bit would be called too

Anyone?????

[FB.]

They also tend to graft higher up- sometimes in 2 different places....just wondering what the middle bit would be called too

Anyone?????

The middle bit is called an interstock.

Generally, you have a vigorous root - such as MM111 or M25.
This provides excellent anchorage that dwarf roots can't. It is also very quick to grab water and nutrients and the roots can compete well with weeds, grass or poor conditions.
Then the main trunk is of a dwarfing variety - such as M9.
This acts to reduce the sapflow (many dwarf roots or interstocks reduce sapflow) coming up from the strong roots, so that the top of the tree doesn't get too much water and nutrients and therefore doesn't grow too quickly.

Then on top of the trunk, you have your fruiting variety (e.g. Golden Delicious).

[Nicos]

....but do they called th rootstock by a different name classification??
I asked if the tree I was buying had M25 and got 'that' look only the French are capable of

[FB.]

They probably use different rootstocks "over there" as the growing conditions will be slightly different and probably not so well suited to the UK's M and MM rootstocks. The only English rootstock that is versatile enough to thrive in a variety of climates is MM111.
Maybe they have a French set of rootstocks, or maybe they use seedlings.

[Mell]

In the 19th C the french lead the way with choposen rootstock with all the Paradise ones.

I have a French friend I swap scions with as I like French cidre types I'll ask him.

Being in Normandy is the question specifically for cidre types ? This may differ because of the desire to keeve cidre.

When I was in the SW in Oct I observed what looked like two grafts eg like an interscion, but on asking it seemed to be for them that the second graft was when a different cultivar needed to be grown so time was no wasted on reforming a root system, those were huge swathes of dessert apples though.

[Nicos]

Nope- just normal eaters...I'd like to try to avoid having to clamber up 30 ft trees when I'm in my 80s

I really like to understand what's going on around me...so yes please Mell- would you ask your friend??

[Mell]

The email has left will keep you posted

M9 BTW is generally thought to be an old French rootstock or cross from one or two of them, probably about the closest we can easily get to the 19th C Paradise types. (But still searching for other Paradise & 19th C rootstocks-myself)

[Mell]

My friend uses Pajam, M9, PI80, P16 MM 106 and MM 111;

Hope that helps !

[Nicos]

Thanks- I'll make a note of that