Who has experience with Geneva 202 rootstock? I see it listed as well anchored, is this true? Looks like a great rootstock from a chart I’m looking at. I now see small fruit size listed as a drawback. Looking for a well anchored blight resistant, free-standing equivalent in MM 106/M7 size range.
Ham,
Overall, it looks like a good one. But I’ve heard it is supposed to have very upright growth.
For my purposes, I need a little more squat and spreading form, so I am gravitating more toward Geneva.935; Geneva.30; and the 111s.
But G.202 looks like it has a lot going for it: fireblight resistance, cold hardiness, vigor, good anchorage, and perhaps its strongest quality: reports that it accomodates scions with a very STRONG graft union. I estimate it would reach around 13-ft in height, and I am keeping it in mind in case I eventually need a tree shaped like this to fill a narrow spot.
By the way-- I do NOT have firsthand experience with G.202 yet. This is just what I have researched.
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Thanks Matt- upright growth is not what I’d choose either, given other options. I just talked to Cummins Nursery and they like 202 for a free-standing tree and weren’t aware of upright growing issues so am going ahead with a few 202. Will bench graft these for a friend’s property at a very high and cold location in W. Va. Will need to pick some disease resistant varieties.
Don’t want to hijack this thread, but can anyone compare 202 and 222? I am getting some 222, which I ordered instead of G30, got the impression 202 (which there seems to be at least a bit of info on online) and 222 were fairly similar at least and both might be smaller then G30…
I had 2 Baldwins on 202. I have one now as one snapped at the graft union in a gusty thunderstorm this fall. Wind speeds about 25mph and the tree was well supported, 2 yrs old and the trunk diameter was 2". Growth is more upright than 935 but still very manageable as crotch angles are good. My 222’s will be second leaf on a smaller scion, crotch angles look fairly flat so far.
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I have about 20 heirloom apples grafted on G202 in the spring of 2014 and planted that fall. They all put on 6 to 8 foot of growth in their first full year in the ground. I used a 5-6 foot metal stake for support. The fence surrounding them is 5 foot tall.
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So much for reports of 202 providing a strong graft union.
Hopefully your broken tree constitutes an anomolous occurance, and your remaining tree will thrive.
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Grey,
Beautiful trees and surroundings you got there.
I am taking “crotch angles fairly flat” as a good sign, they spread nicely? Or they need correcting?
The 222 I may try growing at least 1 out to the point of top-working instead of grafting something new, then top-working that into additional varieties later…
G935 has the best angles of the Geneva rootstocks I grow. 202 is easily spread, 45+ degree angles.
Last year I used G202 for grafting with a high success rate, as did G41 and G890. However, G210 and G214 had high failure rate.
The knock on G202 is it is not very precocious. I know of one orchard that replaced all their apples on G202.
Yet, I think G202 might actually save time by not having to thin fruit. Can anyone confirm this in their experience with G202?
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I have two trees on G202 rootstocks. Two completely different results with growing and fruit production.
One of them is scrawny and branches sort of misshapened. Short as well, probably only 6’ tall. Not a lot of fruit off of it until actually last year. It had a nice batch of fruit. For the size of the tree I was impressed.
The other one has a real nice shape and has produced a lot of nice fruit. It is about 10’+ high. I get enough fruit from it that I can make a lot of apple butter just from just that one variety. I have not had to thin the fruit from this tree, unless it has been damaged somehow.
Both planted in the same year, 2014.
No issues with leaning or having issues with high winds. I did have them staked for the first 3-4 years. I always do that with all my newly planted trees, just as a precaution. Keeping the from breaking at the graft area and also to keep the trunks straight as they start to grow.
Knowing this about the big differences in the growing size I would not select this rootstock to use again.
which cultivar grew better and which cultivar struggled?
Struggled one- Calville Blac d’ Hiver, thriving one- Reinette Zabergau.