Stool bed

[Mahindra3016]

I am going to try a stool bed with 3 mm111 rootstocks that I planted last spring, at what stage do I cut the original trees off, at bud break? Before bud break? Should I cut them off flush or a few inches above the ground?
Thank you!
Ben

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[greyphase]

Hey Ben
I cut mine off at ground level when they are dormant. Here's a pic of some B118's from a couple of years ago.

 

[PoorSand]

I'm thinking I might stool Honeycrisp as a rootstock. I put three Honeycrisp scions in potting mix last week and stored them in darkness at 45 degrees for four days. They each grew multiple 1" long roots during that time. I'm keeping them in those conditions until the terminal bud on each starts to show green. After that, I'll move them to sunlight. If they survive the full year, then I can start stooling them next spring. If I use them for rootstock and my grafts fail, I'll just end up with a Honeycrisp, which isn't a bad outcome either.

 

[Northbound]

What's the preferred medium for stooping? Sand or sawdust? I see both mentioned at times

 

[chickenlittle]

Sawdust will hold moisture better than sand.

 

[Mortenson]

I have a few rootstocks, I believe all B118, planted from last year. I'm going to try doing this as well. Had planned to graft onto them, but this looks worth giving a shot.

 

[BuckSnort]

I use sawdust, it works well if you keep it moist and it’s easy to remove and not damage roots. My first try at things I killed the rootstock. Now I’ve been letting them grow 2-3 years before cutting off to ensure the underground roots are well established.

 

[Luongo43]

Sorry to bring this topic back up. This is the first year I did a stoolbed. Have some roots on them but very minimal. I am located in NY and want to know what I should do next. Do I attempt to cut the rootstocks off the mother plants and individually plant them out to grow for a season, or I should cut them off and graft onto them.

 

[bigboreblr]

I'd probably let them grow a year if the roots are minimal. I had toringo crabapple cuttings make it until july. Put them somewhere they will get mid day shade, or have some sort of translucent top, Try to keep them well watered, but not too much so they rot.

vermiculite is about the most ideal medium if doing cutting in a fridge. Thats what I used. The excess vermiculite is a great soil additive too.

In colonial times, hewes was often the prefered rootstock source. No reason others wouldn't work either.

We're saving plenty of money grafting your own. Using good rootstock might kick everything up a year sooner. Atleast check your home made rootstock source before you can not order the rootstocks you'd like. You can always buy more than you need one year and plant the rest for next year.

 

[Luongo43]

I plan on cutting them and planting them out right away. I’ll I’ll back the medium cut it at the base and hope they make it! Thank you for your help!


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[Luongo43]

Just snipped my rootstock and planted the em out hope they take! Very small roots. Do I have to expose the rootstock in the stool bed? Like in the ground?

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[bigboreblr]

Plant em a bit on the deep side. Make sure you get a leaf node or two in the dirt.