Fruit Tree Rootstocks Size Guide Left to their own fruits will often grow to large for most gardens or too tall to harvest. With this mind they are often grown onto rootstocks to limit their overall sizes. Please see below a guide to the size fruit trees will grow to on various rootstocks. Apples Rootstock: M27 Suitable for: Dwarf pyramids, stepovers or for small gardens. Can also be kept in pots. Ultimate height: 1.2 – 1.8 metres x 1.5 metres Staking: Permanently Planting Distances: 1.2 – 1.5 metres apart with 1.8 metres between rows Rootstock: M9 Suitable for: Bush, pyramid, cordons, small gardens and can be kept in a pot. Ultimate height: 1.8 – 2.4 metres x 2.5 metres Staking: Permanently Planting Distances: 2.4 – 3 metres apart with 3.5 metres between rows Rootstock: M26 Suitable for: Bush, pyramid, cordons, espalier and can be kept in a pot. Ultimate height: 2.5 – 3 metres x 3 metres Staking: Permanently Planting Distances: 2.5-3 metres apart with 4.5 metres between rows Rootstock: MM106 Suitable for: All forms Ultimate height: 3 – 4 metres x 4 metres Staking: Up to 5 years, possibly longer in more exposed sites. Planting Distances: 3.5 metres apart with 4.5 metres between the rows Rootstock: MM111 Suitable for: standards and half standards Ultimate height: 4 – 4.5 metres x 4.5 metres Staking: For up to 3 years. Planting Distances: 4.5 metres apart with 6 metres between rows Rootstock: M25 (very vigorous) Suitable for: Standards Ultimate height : 5 metres x 6 metres Planting Distances: 6.5 metres) Cherries Name of rootstock: Gisela 5 or Gisela 6 Suitable for: Bush, pyramid, fan Start fruiting: Three or four years Ultimate height as trained as bush: 2.4-3m (8-10ft) Growing conditions: Fertile, loamy soil Staking: Permanently Spacing: 2.7m (9ft) Name of rootstock: Colt (semi-vigorous) Suitable for: Bush, half standard, fans Start fruiting: After three or four years Ultimate height as trained as bush: 6m (20ft) Growing conditions: Many soils tolerated including clay and light, chalky soils Staking: Permanently Spacing: 6m (20ft) Pears and quinces Name of rootstock: Quince C or Quince Eline Suitable for: Cordon or bush and can be kept in a pot. Ultimate height: 2.5 – 3m Staking: Permanently Spacing: 3 metres Rootstock: Quince A Suitable for: Fan, cordon, bush, half-standard or espalier Start fruiting: After four years Ultimate height: 3 – 4.5 metres Staking: For up to five years Spacing: 3 – 4.5 metres Plums, Gages and Damsons Name of rootstock: Pixy or VVA.1 (semi-dwarfing) Suitable for: Cordon, dwarf bush Start fruiting: Three or four years Ultimate height as trained as bush: 3-4m (10-12ft) Growing conditions: Good light, loamy soil Staking: Permanently Spacing: 4m (12ft) Name of rootstock: Saint Julian A (semi-vigorous) Suitable for: Bush, half standard, fan-trained Start fruiting: After three or four years Ultimate height as trained as bush: 4.5-5m (14-18ft) Growing conditions: heavy soils are tolerated Staking: 5 years Spacing: 5m (18ft) Name of rootstock: Torinel (semi-vigorous) Suitable for: Bush, half standard, fan-trained, good for containers Start fruiting: After three or four years Ultimate height as trained as bush: 2.4-3m (6-10ft) Growing conditions: loamy Staking: Five years Spacing: 3m (10ft) Peaches, nectarines, apricots Name of rootstock: Saint Julian A (semi-vigorous) Suitable for: Bush, half standard, fan-trained Start fruiting: After three or four years Ultimate height as trained as bush: 4.5-5m (14-18ft) Growing conditions: heavy soils are tolerated Staking: 5 years Spacing: 5m (18ft) Name of rootstock: Torinel (semi-vigorous) Suitable for: Bush, half standard, fan-trained, good for containers Start fruiting: After three or four years Ultimate height as trained as bush: 2.4-3m (6-10ft) Growing conditions: loamy Staking: Five years Spacing: 3m (10ft) BACK TO ARTICLES
