Gravenstein Apple nursery stock?

[California]

I'm concerned that my primary apple variety has become impossible to get. Dad used to buy bare-root Gravenstein trees every year for replanting, and griped that he couldn't afford the $4 - $6 each. I'm trying to gradually replant about 50 void spots in the orchard and the local retail nursery is the only source I know of that still can provide Gravensteins but they are over $20 each.

Then this year they said the Gravs they sold a couple of years ago are beginning to bear and they aren't real Gravenstein (red/yellow stripes). He discovered they are Red Gravenstein, and suspects they are semi-dwarf to better fit suburban yards. He said his supplier didn't tell him but switched to Red Gravenstein 'because the customer expects an apple to be red'. Bah.

Does anyone know a source for Common Gravenstein nursery stock at a reasonable price?

 

[zeuspaul]

Greenmantle nursery bench grafts $8 Greenmantle Nursery

Graft from your own trees and you'll get exactly what you have now.
Burnt Ridge Nursery standard rootstock $2.50 Burnt Ridge Nursery

Two varieties of standard rootstock <$1.00 in bulk Willamette Nursery
WILLAMETTE NURSERIES, INC.


How to graft apples
growingapples


Zeuspaul

 

[California]

zeuspaul,

Thanks for the information! I looked at all three websites.

I hadn't planned to buy commercial rootstock and graft my own, but I think you just started me on a new path. The oldtimers around here know most everything about growing apples but none could recommend a source for these full-height Gravensteins. I want the full size to keep the character of the place, and to screen out the inevitable new construction on neighboring parcels.

Did you buy the Kuffel S.C. apple book? That looks like a good reference for grafting and pruning.

 

[zeuspaul]

I downloaded the book years ago when it was free.

I have been trying to find standard apple trees here in Southern California for years without much luck. Also not much of a selection here.

I ordered 15 full size trees from Burnt Ridge and planted them last week. I am waiting for 24 bench grafts on various rootstocks from Greenmantle. All the trees are different varieties.

Greenmantle suggests keeping the benchgrafts in a nursery for a year before planting in the orchard. However Kuffel says just put them in the ground and they will outpace all others as they will develop a better root system.

I have never grafted but it seems straight forward and a very low cost way to go if you want to establish an orchard. With your own scion the trees would run about a buck each (minimum 100 trees). Not bad when most trees are $20.

I did order four rootstocks from Burnt Ridge to try my luck at grafting. They have the Russian variety of full size rootstock. Willamette has both the Russian and American full size seedling rootstocks. I have planted both so I can see what does best in my soil and climate conditions.

Best of Luck with your apple trees

Zeuspaul

 

[Egon]

Nice countryside picture.

Gravensteins are a nice apple.

Have you any " wild Apples " in your neighbourhood. They may be able to provide older root stock for grafting and may be priced right.

 

[Steve_Miller]

Grav's are best to me when hard and sour, can't get enough of them though. You have a beautiful spot, best of luck grafting.

Steve

 

[ToadHill]

www.millernuseries.com I know they have semi-dwarf Grav's but I'm not sure if they hane full size Grav's or not.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Sorry I don't have any specific locations but some yrs back Marion County (Salem Or.) was the largest rpoducers of Apple tree stock in the nation. See several of the links are to nurseries close by but no personal experience. I would think one could locate several nurseries here in the Williamette Valley that could supply. Times and varieties do change.

 

[California]

Thanks to all, for the additional references.I will check them out.

This picture is just after harvest. Most of these are dwarfs, planted as replacements 10-15 years ago.