One tree for my friend

[bigboreblr]

Root maker pots are doing well, I snipped off the top of a few new trees and potted a M7 Bareroot. I got about 15 or so apple trees in pots. MY friend is redoing a home and yard. He can hunt from his backyard and has 4 unknown mature trees out back. These are my options. He said he would like an edible tree. I orginially bought him a Enterprise on M7 thats in a big grow pot. However, have other grafts on M111 that are doing good. Here's my list.

-Enterprise on M7
-Galarina on M111
-NY-414 on M111. Nicknamed early macoun basically a jazzed up Liberty.

PRetty sure he is zone 5. Might be 6 now in USDA's redone map. Doubting he will bowhunt out back, maybe get a doe at the wrong place and time after work. NY rifle season is mid November. He is 52, so maybe something that will start fruiting earlier. Not gonna spray about 100% sure on that. FYI he is a carpenter and remove bees from houses as a side gig to it. LEaning a bit towards galarina, I have 3 growing well already. Only got 2 enterprise at home M111 and B118. Only got 1 NY 414 growing in the ground at my house. These trees were grafted as backup for my home orchard. Besides crabapple on anty for camp in the nursery. All trees have done well so far. Only 1 pristine on M111 isn't growing ok, but doesn't look sick.

M7 younger to bear, but on slow to bear variety Enterprise. M111 takes a bit longer on average, but galarina grows fast and bears young as I have read. Mostly torn between those 2.

 

[g squared 23]

My Enterprise on M111 fruited fairly well at 5 years old. I have a few apples on a 3 year old tree, same rootstock. I’d go with the bigger rootstock, M111 does really well on my clay soil.


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[Native Hunter]

I planted a 4 feet tall Galarina on Dolgo in the spring of 2023. In the summer of 2024 it is now 12 feet tall and has 5 big beautiful apples and super clean leaves.

I’ve read bad things about M7 but have no personal experience with it. I would give a good friend a proven cultivar on MM111 based on your options.

PS - I only have experience with 4 rootstocks, but I think the rootstock has less impact on how quickly a tree bears than everyone thinks. I’m not saying that it isn’t a factor, but I think having a proven DR cultivar on a rootstock that doesn’t uproot when the wind blows is what matters the most.