apple rootstocks

[gan heather]

I had ordered 2 rootstocks (MM106) earlier in the year to try my hand at grafting. The grafts didn't take (my fault), but the rootstocks are growing fine. If I planted those, what sort of apples would I get from them? Would it even be an eating apple or would it be a crab apple?

[FB.]

Rootstocks can't be relied upon to produce quality fruit, with some not even being the same as what is grafted (e.g. pears on quince stocks and almonds on plum stocks).
However, a number of apple rootstocks will produce acceptable fruit.
The American variety "Northern Spy" is one parent of the MM106, MM111 and M25.

You may find - as I have done - that rootstocks aren't particularly resistant to above-ground diseases such as mildew in particular, but also canker or scab.

You will also find that many rootstocks are prone to "burr knots" after a couple of years, which are basically roots growing out of splits in the bark of the branches. These make the tree look very ugly and serve as an entry point for disease. Of course, the enthusiasm to send out roots is valuable as a rootstock, but the splits in the bark where roots grow out of the branches are easily infected by canker.

If I were you, I'd look to re-graft them next year.

[gan heather]

Thanks for the advice. Disappointing to hear that they don't grow so well "ungrafted." Guess I'll hold off until next year and try grafting them again.