Prior to the mid-1990s, nearly all sweet cherries in the Pacific Northwest were grown on Mazzard rootstock. However, in recent years, several new rootstocks have gained prominence, offering important attributes lacking in Mazzard. Some of these new rootstocks provide growers with early yields of premium, quality fruit in high-density orchards. In fact, rootstocks affect tree size, precocity, productivity, soil adaptability, disease susceptibility, fruit size, and fruit quality. It is for these reasons that it is important for growers to choose the rootstock wisely when planning a new orchard. Selecting the proper rootstock depends not only on the management skills of […]