I’ve ordered some Adara cuttings that I will have in the spring. Can anyone tell me if it would make for a good interstem/rootstock to create a fruit salad tree (multigrafted). I’ve read on here that it is compatible with so many varieties. I’ve ordered some Lovell rootstocks to try to chip bud to, but the more I read, the more it seems Adara might be compatible with more varieties. Located in southern PA zone 6/7.
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I think you’re on the right track. What is your rootstock? I have an Adara interstem on Prunus Americana with a plum graft on it. I think your idea should work. You would have to grow the Adara segment pretty tall initially to have enough branches to switch over. I have some Kymsk-86 scions available that should do pretty much the same only more dwarfing.
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Best strategy would be to graft Adara onto your Lovell peach roostock and allow the Adara to develop your scaffold structure. Then graft onto each scaffold the various other stonefruit varieties you want to grow. Adara gives your universal compatibility. You will be hard pressed to find an incompatible stonefruit; it provides many more compatible options than any other interstem available here in the USA.
As you prune off each Adara scaffold, take some time to make cutting for easy rooting then you can grow your own interstems.
Dennis
Kent, Wa
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Awesome! I’m located in south central pa. Pretty good soil. Would it be better for me to use a myrobalan rootstock or something like Lovell?
I am either going to use Lovell peach or myrobalan plum. Not sure which one would work best.
Depends on whether you want a more dwarf structure or a full size tree. Peach rootstock will give faster growth than myrobylan. I prefer a peach rootstock
Dennis
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If you decide you want to go with myrobalan plum for the roots, you might as well just use ‘Adara’ as the rootstock and not just as an interstem. ‘Adara’ is a selected cultivar of myrobalan plum (P. cerasifera).
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Are you saying that you’ve experienced myrobalans tend to be smaller trees? If so, I wonder if that’s location specific. They are naturalized in my area and many of the trees get massive. They can grow really fast here too.
To clarify, My three are Myrobalan 29C which have been more a semi dwarf type rootstock, all 3 are low and spreading, there may be some other type which I cannot comment on. Mine are about 12 years old and about 6’ high now. They do take many varieties well, but I had expected more growth vigor than has occurred.
Dennis
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That’s gotta be a location thing then. 29C is supposed to be semi-vigorous, 16-20’ tall trees.
It seems Myrobalan has been used extensively to develop sweet cherry intestem. Adara is one and Monrepos is another, though I read that monrepos isn’t actually very compatible with plum…strangely enough.
Could be that by grafting all scaffolds and then the central with plum and pluots that it wanted to send out more laterals. I ended up with 3 nice multi grafted and spreading trees all at desireable heights but it took about 7 years of work.
Dennis
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Would it be best to grow the Adara for a few years into mains scaffold that shape the tree, then whip and tounge graft the branches. OR… would it be better to attempt some chip bud grafts on a plain Adara whip. Not sure which one I’d have the most success with? I have plenty of other trees so I’m not really concerned with the time it will take or a massive crop load each year. I just would like to create something that has multiple stone fruits and doesn’t require cross pollinating with another tree. Would be a nice conversation piece.
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Given you have time to achieve your goal, I would suggest growing each scaffold at the height you wish to have them and even allow each scaffold to grow two nice one year old laterals. Then you can readily use whip and tongue or cleft grafts, two very strong methods, to graft on the varieties you wish to add. Probably two growing seasons of growth is what you should achieve while you select the varieties you would like to graft in spring of the third season. As the tree grows out you will also be able to add additional varieties to enhance cross pollination. Keep in mind that some varieties will outpace others and present a few challenges so if you can study what you have you can best place these rapid growth scions where you can easily throttle them back to shape the tree so that sun can penetrate the whole canopy. For example, aggressive varieties like Drag Queen or Obilnaya would be placed in opposing places so that tree balance is maintained. Perhaps use your least aggressive variety to top the central leader provided its pollen will arrive in time for opening blossoms below. Those are my thoughts on things you can ponder to make a plan.
Best wishes
Dennis
Kent, Wa
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This may be of interest If I do it right not a computer or social media pro:
(Fruit Cocktail (4 Varieties)). Ok my computing skills are showing. Try copy paste, or search I read about this on this form earlier tonight.
It looks like they’re using Krymsk rootstock and the Adara interstem. From what I can see from the revie pictures it looks like the Adara is grafted at soil level, then the varieties are bud grafted to the Adara whip. Is that what everyone else is seeing? I’m going to attempt to make a few of these trees so this link is very helpful. Thank you.
I have a young volunteer cherry seedling growing in a convenient spot, and some Adara branches in other places from which I can harvest scion wood.
I’m considering using Adara as an interstem to graft plum to this cherry seedling. If I’d left the cherry alone, I suspect it would grow into a very tall tree. Would an Adara interstem provide some size/vigor control?
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Hi Jafar,
From my experience over several years the Adara scion will not alter or confer any control over growth vigor. Your rootstock will determine that characteristic.
Dennis
Kent, Wa
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I didn’t notice the pictures you looked at and agree it’s grafted low to the Krymsk 1. Then has peach, nectarine, plum and apricot as well as cherry directly grafted to branches. May be the interstem I’ve been looking for to get smaller peach and some varieties of apricot trees. I’ve spent a chunk of $ trying to find something that will grow and work here. Glad you noticed that.
I’m also getting Adara this April. Both, scions and rooted cuttings. I’ll be able to graft over my Rootpac-R rootstock using interstem and have a pure adara tree for future use. I also have a few plum trees that have gone to rootstock at my other place.
Do I need the adara for grafting peach or nectarine onto plum? (I know something peach is often a rootstock for plum, but I haven’t heard it working the other way around).