Aug 22, 2017

Washington State University Extension to host rootstock tour

Washington State University (WSU) Extension and the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission will host a tour of recent rootstock trials on Aug. 25. There are three stops on this tour. Participants can join the free tour at one stop or at all. Tom Auvil, research horticulturist with the commission, will describe characteristics of rootstock performance in the trials to date.

The tour will make stops in Oroville, Brewster and Wenatchee. Participants can carpool with the group leaving Wenatchee at 6:00 a.m. or leaving Omak at 8:45 a.m. Alternatively participants can meet the group at individual locations.

Descriptions of each stop are listed below as provided by WSU Extension.

Stop 1: Oroville
Start: 9:45 a.m.
Host: David Taber
Location: Loomis Oroville Rd, Oroville WA
GPS 48° 56′ 36.5″ N 119° 27′ 3.4″ W
Description: At this location we will review performance of third leaf Honeycrisp trees with a crop on Geneva rootstocks and commercial standards in a replicated planting in a non-fumigated old orchard site. Performance is currently excellent at this location. Rootstocks included in this trial include Bud 9, G.969, G.210, G.41, G.935, G.214, G.11, G.890, M.9 Nic 29, and M.9 T337. We will discuss crop load, tree vigor and bitter pit.

Stop 2: Brewster
Start: 1 p.m.
Host: Jim Divis
Location: 72 Lakeview Way Brewster WA GPS: 48° 7’11.86″N 119°42’40.62″W
Description: We will look at Pazazz on Bud 9, G.969, G.210, G.41, G.935, G.214, G.11, G.890, M.9 Nic 29, and M.9 T337. These are the same rootstocks as in Oroville. At this location they are planted on new ground. G.935 is showing some virus sensitivity. Crop was set on 3rd leaf trees. Vigor management, bitter pit, and fruit size can be observed.

Stop 3: East Wenatchee
Start: 4 p.m.
Host: Scott McDougall, McDougall and Sons
Location: East Wenatchee

Description McDougall location 1: Honeycrisp trial with Geneva rootstocks: Bud 9, G.969, G.210, G.41, G.935, G.214, G.11, G.890, M.9 Nic 29, M.9 T337. The block is in a V trellis with two foot in row spacing. We will discuss management of Honeycrisp in new plantings and what Geneva rootstocks can offer compared to M.9 standards.

Description McDougall location 2: We will look at a MSU cherry rootstock trial with three scions (Early Robin, Sweetheart, Regina) on standard roots: Gisela 5 and 6, Krymsk 5 (sweetheart) and 6 (Early Robin, Regina). The block is planted as an SSA vertical trial at 12 x 2 spacing. The rootstock trial is in a V, with 12 x 2 foot spacing on mid-size rootstocks, and 1 foot spacing on small rootstocks. We will discuss SSA high density plantings with minimal pruning at planting.

For more information, call WSU Extension Tree Fruit Specialist Tianna Dupont at 509-713-5346 or email [email protected]; or call Tom Auvil at 509-669-3060.