| I'm not 100% sure on this, but I think the rootstock is grown from seed - or more likely these days, from clones - and the variety is chosen for it's root development, growth, etc., rather than its fruiting qualities. I guess you could try and strike some, or perhaps take a bit of the parent plant's root system. However, I don't think it's a great idea to plant fruit trees willy nilly. If the fruit is not edible to you, it will still appeal to fruit fly, etc. and, unless you remove and dispose all the useless fruit, you are going to encourage insect pests, fungus, etc. If you are successful with growing on the suckers, perhaps you can try bud grafting next - use the rootstock and buds from your good apple tree. Or scrounge some other body parts of known varieties from friends or neighbours. |
