The great value in topworking

[b116757]

All photos taken this morning these are all top worked grafts

First is Dr Deer
Second is Gate
Third is McKalvey

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Question for all you pear gents .....

Given the research done on commercial rootstocks for DR, when you top-work pears onto Callery roots, how's the DR on any of the grafts? Any differences - good or bad - since top-working? Wondering if Callery roots have a noticeable effect one way or the other.

 

[Telemark]

Question for all you pear gents .....

Given the research done on commercial rootstocks for DR, when you top-work pears onto Callery roots, how's the DR on any of the grafts? Any differences - good or bad - since top-working? Wondering if Callery roots have a noticeable effect one way or the other.

I have not had any disease issues with any of my grafts. When I see a Callery pear that looks diseased I kill it. Not sure if it's actually diseases, injuries, or genetic disorders causing the trees to look unusual, but I just get rid of them. I've killed 3 because of appearance out of maybe 100 seedling trees I've encountered. I also kill off the huge trees that I can't graft, maybe about 10 so far.

I have had some issues with compatibility. Some varieties just thrive on Callery roots better than others. Some do very poorly, especially the perry varieties I've tried.

Callery pears around me seem to be very disease resistant. I just kill the few that appear to be affected by disease. I don't think the roots have much affect on the scion. The scion will have its own genetics and disease resistance. This is just my experience and not gospel.

 

[Native Hunter]

Question for all you pear gents .....

Given the research done on commercial rootstocks for DR, when you top-work pears onto Callery roots, how's the DR on any of the grafts? Any differences - good or bad - since top-working? Wondering if Callery roots have a noticeable effect one way or the other.

No difference in DR for me. I'm really particular about apple rootstock, but I have never seen any difference in any of the pear rootstocks except for the ultimate size of the tree. One nursery told me that he sometimes used Callery as his rootstock for pears he sold.