G.969 Apple Rootstock (Spring 2025)

An excellent choice for a free-standing, disease-resistant tree of M.7 size. Also known as Geneva 969.

G.969 is resistant to fireblight, collar rot, and woolly apple aphid. This stock should be considered by those who are growing apples for processing; it makes a free-standing tree between the size of M.26 and M.7, it is very productive, and it has good cold hardiness. Burr knots and suckering are minimal. G.969, G.935, and G.814 all appear to reduce biennialism in Honeycrisp and are considered the best stocks for such weak-growing cultivars.

For high-density plantings of weak-growing cultivars, Cornell recommends 3-3.5' x 11-12' (1320-1037 trees/acre) and for vigorous cultivars 3.5-4 x 12-13' (1037-839 trees/acre). If processing growers are willing to plant at 4-5' in row spacings and 14' between rows, G.969 is recommended. This stock is free standing, but will require a trellis to support heavy early crops.

G.969 came out of the Geneva, NY breeding program and the work of my father, Dr. Jim Cummins. It is derived from a 1976 cross of Ottawa 3 and Robusta 5.

Recent trials suggest that G.969 develops a brittle graft union with the following varieties when chip budded: Chestnut Crab, Cox's Orange Pippin, Cortland, Fuji, Jonagold, Sansa, Wickson Crab. This issue can be avoided by using whip and tongue grafts.

Volume Pricing

Quantity	G.969 Apple Rootstock
1-24	$4.75
25-99	$4.25
100-299	$3.6
300+	$2.95

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$4.75 ea.

952 in stock

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G.969 is resistant to fireblight, collar rot, and woolly apple aphid. This stock should be considered by those who are growing apples for processing; it makes a free-standing tree between the size of M.26 and M.7, it is very productive, and it has good cold hardiness. Burr knots and suckering are minimal. G.969, G.935, and G.814 all appear to reduce biennialism in Honeycrisp and are considered the best stocks for such weak-growing cultivars.

For high-density plantings of weak-growing cultivars, Cornell recommends 3-3.5' x 11-12' (1320-1037 trees/acre) and for vigorous cultivars 3.5-4 x 12-13' (1037-839 trees/acre). If processing growers are willing to plant at 4-5' in row spacings and 14' between rows, G.969 is recommended. This stock is free standing, but will require a trellis to support heavy early crops.

G.969 came out of the Geneva, NY breeding program and the work of my father, Dr. Jim Cummins. It is derived from a 1976 cross of Ottawa 3 and Robusta 5.

Recent trials suggest that G.969 develops a brittle graft union with the following varieties when chip budded: Chestnut Crab, Cox's Orange Pippin, Cortland, Fuji, Jonagold, Sansa, Wickson Crab. This issue can be avoided by using whip and tongue grafts.