St. Julian A Rootstock

General Fruit Growing
#1

I have been researching plum rootstocks for the last week or so and it has been difficult to find a lot of information on the performance of St. Julian A root stock for euro plums. Does anyone have any experience with St. Julian A in zone 7 or a climate anything like the Mid-Atlantic?

#2

I have a Nadia on St Julian in 6B mid-atlantic. The thing is growing very well. I’d say I have moderate soil on the clay side of things. I planted it this past spring so not a whole lot to report other than its growing well.

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#3

I have Jefferson and Yakima on St Julian. They are pretty vigorous and, perhaps consequently, slow to bear. They flowered without really setting fruit in their 4th or 5th year.

#4

I have several plums on St. Julian A which are now about 12 years old. It has been a perfectly fine rootstock. Most of my plums are on Myro which is also fine. My favorite rootstock for Euro plums is Citation, it is more precocious than the others. But Citation does not seem to be good in all locations.

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#5

Over here in Germany (Zone 7) St. Julian A ist the standard rootstock for plums (Euro), apricots and peaches. Its very compatible and doesnt sucker. Its less vigorous than Myro.

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#6

My St. Julian sucker. I’ve started new trees that way. I view moderate suckering as a positive quality. I guess it would be bad in an orchard that isn’t tended. Snipping of 1 or 2 suckers a year doesn’t even register on the maintenance scale.

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#7

Well, it might do some suckering under certain conditions, for instance when there is root damage. But it really doesnt sucker much.
Are you sure not talking about St. Julien GF 655/2? That one isnt used that much anymore because its suckering badly.

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#8

I am not sure. I got my first from One Green World maybe 10 years ago. My notes say St. Julien, but I may have used Julien and Julian interchangeably. I’ve never seen any designation for sale other than “A” or not specified.

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#9

I had a typo in my first post. The rootstocks are called st julien a and st julien gf 655/2.

#10

Burnt Ridge Nursery describes St. Julian A as “causes some suckering”. http://www.burntridgenursery.com/Rootstock/products/98/

Maybe climate has something to do with it.

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