Hi, all,
Without getting into my poor planning, I need about another 10 rootstocks, and the usual suspects are sold out of G890.
Cummins does still have G210. Do I just go with those, and hope I have better luck with my grafts taking than has been reported on this forum? (Keeping in mind that I’m a fairly newbie grafter. I had good luck with G890 last year). Or does anybody know where there might be a few last, lonely, late season G890’s to be had?
Do they have any G969 left? It’s a suitable replacement, though it does produce a slightly smaller tree.
I’ve had good luck with Bud-118, but it is a larger tree. I see Eve’s Cidery has a bunch left (279), but I have never purchased from them. Here’s the link: B118 Rootstock | Eve's Cidery
Sadly, G969 is sold out as well. Which is what I get for not counting noses before now, so to speak.
G 210 is a reasonable replacement for G890. See the chart in the link below for a comparison of the two. The main disadvantage of G210 is it is newer and people especially backyard grafters have limited hands on experience with it.
Perhaps G-210 would do better at your location than mine. I am in short-season Zone 3 Montana and bought 20 a couple years ago. Only half survived transplanting to the garden bed, only one is nearing 2’ height, and the rest are less than a foot. I grafted 20 B-118 this year, and most all are 2’, plus or minus a couple inches.
I’m guessing you’ve seen what I’ve posted about G.210 before: 60% death rate of the rootstock first year, and that doesn’t even address the difficulty getting grafts to take on it. It seems fine once established, but getting one started is difficult. I graft at least twice as many as I hope to end up with, and even that is inadequate at times.
That was the bit I was afraid of. 
I have better scion for the most part than I did last year, but 50% failure would still be depressing, since I’ve only got enough to do 2-3 trees of each variety.
What do you all think about B-9 ?
From what I’ve read 890 is much more self supporting than most of the Geneva rootstocks. This includes 210. I can try to find a source if you want. So while they are similar in many regards, you might want to plan on supporting them on a longer term basis than whatever you were planning for the 890
I also thought about substituting 210 for 890 at one point. Also if you want 3/16" rootstocks then you might have some luck of you email Apple Price List — CopenHaven Farms
Their website is out of date but I think they still have some. Good luck!
Thanks, maybe I’ll drop them a note. I need all of about 10-15. So, while they don’t usually break their bundles, maybe I’ll ask if I can sort of sweep the shop floor, if you will. 