Mass grafting some apples

Discussion in 'Trees' started by Adam I, Jan 29, 2026 at 12:03 AM.

  1. Adam I

    Adam I Super Gardener

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2023
    Messages:
    649
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Hijinks
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Ratings:
    +994
    I thought it would be fun to try some grafting, so attempted it on some feral plums this winter. I then found a website, yorkshireapples.co.uk, that sells scions of uncommon apple varieties and rootstocks to go with it that you have to graft together yourself. You have to buy 10 rootstocks at a time, but you can (theoretically) make 10 unique apple trees for £90 which seems like a great deal.
    I bought the following scions:

    Coxs Orange Pippin
    Pitmaston Pineapple
    Bess Pool
    Beauty of Bath
    Spartan
    Sops in Wine
    Michaelmas Red
    Pendragon


    with Geneva 210 rootstocks.

    Anyone tried any of these apples, or have any grafting tips? Ive had Spartan before which was a great crispy apple.

    Dont ask where ill find space for them, I know my village too well :whistle::thumbsup:
     
  2. Tidemark

    Tidemark Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 5, 2024
    Messages:
    1,981
    Occupation:
    Long retired
    Location:
    Near Buxton
    Ratings:
    +5,380
    Pitmaston Pineapple I have. Bought it about 12 years ago on a dwarf rootstock. It is a slight, slender, slow growing, slightly drooping tree with biennial bearing and the tiniest, oval, yellow fruits, which I have never managed to taste because the birds always get to them first.

    Cox’s Orange Pippin was a beautiful, delicious, difficult-to-grow-well apple back in the 1960s. It was a triploid. But they “improved” it and it’s now not a patch on what it was.

    Beauty of Bath is another apple from my youth. It used to be a much anticipated feature of the local greengrocers’ shops in the early autumn. I haven’t seen it for sale in donkey’s years, but I remember it as being tasty.

    Sops in wine I don’t have, but I do have a similar apple called Dirleton Red. A very unusual tree suffused with redness, the fruits are red in every part, flesh, pips the lot. And the wood is red when you cut into it. The flowers are a deep, deep pink. Very pretty, but not the tastiest apple.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2026 at 6:48 AM
  3. Stephen Southwest

    Stephen Southwest Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2020
    Messages:
    304
    Gender:
    Male
    Ratings:
    +361
    It's worth using a really sharp grafting knife.
    You might consider multiple grafts on each rootstock, especially if space is limited...
     
  4. NigelJ

    NigelJ Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2012
    Messages:
    9,474
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Mad Scientist
    Location:
    Paignton Devon
    Ratings:
    +29,976
    Pitmaston Pineapple is an excellent small apple with a different flavour.
    I'm also fond of Laxtons Superb has a tendency to biennial bearing and large crisp sweet apples.
    Discovery was a good early variety, for eating as they ripened, go floury if kept.
    Spartan also did well for me.
     
Loading...

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice