Apple Rootstock and Pollination Information
Apple Pollination
Apples and Pears need close attention to matching bloom times for good fruit set. In our cool spring climate, we have extended bloom times; other climates with warm springs may have more compressed bloom seasons that allow more pollinizer choices. The charts below are based on our experience in the Pacific Northwest; contact your local Master Gardeners or county agricultural extension agent for information about bloom times in your area.
Apple Bloom Times
Choose your pollinizer from the same or adjacent columns. For example, Idared pollinizes Williams Pride (Same column) or Akane (Adjacent column), but not Elstar. Varieties marked with an asterisk* do not work as pollinizers for other varieties (they have sterile pollen).
VERY EARLY | EARLY | MID-SEASON | MID-SEASON | LATE | VERY LATE |
| Gravenstein* | Centennial Crab Idared Red Alkmene Williams’s Pride Zestar | Akane Ananas Reinette Arkansas Black Ashmead’s Kernal* Belmac Ben Davis Bramley’s Seedling* Cosmic Crisp Early McIntosh Enterprise Fiesta Freedom Galarina™ Golden Russet Golden Sentinel Grimes Golden Honeycrisp | Initial ®* | Beni Shogun Fuji Elstar Florina Pitmaston Pineapple Harry Masters Jersey Kingston Black Yarlington Mill Chisel Jersey Mettais Redstreak Reines des Pommes Tremlett Bitter | Brown Snout |
Apples are only shipped while dormant, from February through mid to late April. They are available for pickup at the nursery February through mid-November.
Apple Rootstocks
MINI-DWARF M-27
Trees will grow 4′-6’in height. They are compact, precocious trees. Ideal for the home gardener with little space for fruit trees. Suitable for espalier, can grow in large containers. Permanent support required. Space 2′-4′ apart.
MINI-DWARF G-41
Tree will grow 6′-9′. Precocious and productive. Resistant to fireblight and replant disease. Permanent support required. Space 6′-8′ apart.
DWARF M-26
Trees will grow 7′-12′ and are very productive and cold hardy; will not tolerate poorly drained soil. Requires staking in early years and may require permanent support in some situations. Space 7′-9′ apart.
SEMI-DWARF Geneva 30
Trees will grow 8′-12′. Extremely productive, resistant to replant disease and fireblight. Should be staked in early years. 8′ spacing.
SEMI-DWARF Geneva 210
Trees will grow 9′-14′. Extremely productive, resistant to replant disease, fireblight, and woolly apple aphid. Needs staking in early years. 9′ spacing.
SEMI-DWARF M-106
Trees will grow 10′-15’and produce a well anchored root system. Trees are precocious and productive, tolerating a wide range of soil conditions. Very cold hardy. Should be staked in early years. Space 10′-15′ apart.
SEMI-STANDARD M-111
Trees will grow 15′-20′, should be spaced at least 15′ apart. Tolerant of most soil types, and somewhat drought tolerant.
Graft your own apple trees, by purchasing Apple Rootstocks for home grafting here.
