Bulk apple tree liners

[ATH]

I have a client wanting to start an orchard (sounds like they want to start with 40 acres, then go to 80 acres in a few years).

They are having trouble finding the trees. I've found a few sources just searching...but I also know some of these places don't seem to be really active online (same with Christmas tree seedlings, reforestation seedlings, etc...). I'm thinking we may be a little late for this season, but thought I'd see if I can help them at all.

Any sources you can recommend?

Thanks!

 

[The Green One]

Here is a lead on a quick search, ATH.

Apples — Van Well Nursery

Future Inventory Fruit Trees from Tree Nursery, Van Well Nursery in East Wenatchee, Washington State, United States.

www.vanwell.net

 

[Basswood]

Ive gotten some root stock and scions from Cummins Nursery in the past and have about 50 root stock and 25 scions coming from them and one other grower with the intention of selling a bunch. Really easy to work with and responsive.

Cummins Nursery

Fruit Trees, Scions, and Rootstocks for Apples, Pears, Cherries, Plums, Peaches, and Nectarines

www.cumminsnursery.com

Edit: didn’t really know what you meant by liners so this link is probably not applicable but still a cool grower to share.

I’m not sure what their intentions is but this source has some cool trees. Maybe not the best option for someone looking to develop a commercial nursery but for a home orchard/collector/specialist there are some interesting ones.

Heirloom Fruit Trees for Home & Farm Trees of Antiquity rooted organic

Heirloom fruit tree nursery grounded in organically grown apple trees. Trees of Antiquity is a small family farm shipping heritage fruit trees to homes and farms for over forty years. Growers of over 400 varieties of fruit trees shipped bare root. Folks reserve fruit trees for shipment in winter...

www.treesofantiquity.com

 

[ATH]

I had looked at Cummins. They have most of the varieties the client is looking for, but not enough inventory. Again, I suspect they are late in the year to be finding those quantities. I don't know if "liner stock" is the technically correct term - It just seems pretty similar to what commercial nurseries bring in to grow that they are calling liner stock. What I'm picturing is bare root, but 3-4' (like much of what Cummins has). Who knows...they may want to go bigger. They do have the financial resources to do so - but just because they can, doesn't mean they will think it wise to invest in larger trees. I'd recommend bare root as they are more likely to be planted correctly. Unlikely that containerized trees will get the proper root adjustments (and I cannot imagine the time it would take to do so on 40 acres!).

They are working on somebody else with layout/design and had mentioned they were having trouble finding trees, so I said I'd look around a bit.

I don't think I'm doing the planting either.

Not being too involved with this project is OK with me - this is not our core business focus (OK, I've never planted a proper orchard before!). But I like to help where I can. They have me working on some other trees.

 

[ATH]

Van Well has the numbers, but not all of the varieties they were looking for.

 

[Basswood]

What about gathering rootstock and scion wood to get the needed inventory?

 

[ATH]

Like grafting their own? Where would you (efficiently) get root stock?

I could see doing that for a few trees...by if they do 12' spacing (not sure their exact plan) that's 300 per acre for 12,000 trees total.

 

[Basswood]

Like grafting their own? Where would you (efficiently) get root stock?

I could see doing that for a few trees...by if they do 12' spacing (not sure their exact plan) that's 300 per acre for 12,000 trees total.

Yeah that would be a lot. Maybe supplement what’s missing? But that’s still a huge undertaking.

 

[Matias]

I hadn't done the math, but from what I have heard, you gotta preorder those in summer for the next spring to get that many matching sets of trees.

 

[ATH]

I hadn't done the math, but from what I have heard, you gotta preorder those in summer for the next spring to get that many matching sets of trees.

Yes...I'm pretty sure that's accurate - not unexpected. Was hoping that we might could find a few hundred here and a few hundred there to get to what they needed.

I talked with the manager again. They are full in working with another (retail) nursery and told me not to worry about finding trees.