The production of generative rootstocks is one of the most specialized branches of horticultural production. Good results are obtained only in warmer regions, on very rich and carefully prepared soils. Fertile soils are the most suitable for the production of rootstocks, moderately concise, loamy-sandy, characterized by good air circulation, easy heating and high water capacity.
Nursery areas are not suitable for growing rootstocks, beetroots, lucernie, raspberries and potatoes. Perennial plants are the most suitable for the forecrop, clover, rape, and legumes or grains on manure in an amount of about 50 tons of 1 ha. The best prepared soil is obtained by applying appropriate crop rotation.
An example of such a variation is presented below:
Year 1. Root or butterfly on manure.
Year 2. Winter cereals.
Year 3. Rapeseed or mustard on manure.
Year 4. Fruit tree rootstocks.
Mineral fertilizers in the amount depending on the natural fertility of the soil – potassium (from 80 do 140 kg / ha) i fosfor (from 40 do 80 kg / ha) used after rape harvest and before deep plowing.
The seeds of fruit trees are not able to germinate immediately after harvest. Their germination follows changes called post-maturation. The seeds undergo this process under low temperature conditions (from 0 do 8°C), high air humidity (about 90%) and oxygen access. To ensure such conditions, the seeds are mixed with moist sand or sawdust in proportion 1:3 and places them in containers in a cool room. This procedure is called stratification (Lynx. 8).
The seeds of fruit trees are recommended to be soaked in water before stratification: pome 2-4 hours, and stone stones – one day. Swelling in soaked seeds, and then the post-maturation begins at the same time, so they sprout more evenly. For better germination results, it is recommended to have the recently ratified stone seed first 14 keep days at room temperature. Sand moisture content should be checked during the stratification period. Dry sand sprinkles with water. If, on the other hand, it is too wet, it added dry sand. It airs the seeds on average every 2-3 weeks of pouring them out of bins or pits and shoveling them.
The length of the seed stratification period of individual species varies within limits(in days):
Antonówka ordinary 60- 90
Caucasian pear 70- 90
bird cherry 110-140
antypka 90-120
ałycza 110-150
peach 90-120
Hungarian Wangenheim 130-150
morela 90-120
Walnut 70-100
Knowing the length of the seed stratification period is very important to practice. Large variations in the length of the stratification period depend on the individual species and types, as well as from the transition of processes, called post-maturation. Mass seed germination should fall on a period, in which external conditions allow the seeds to be sown into the ground.
After stratification is complete, what we know from the sprouting of the first seeds, you should start sowing them. The method of sowing seeds depends on this, whether the seedlings will be quilted or not. If the seedlings are to be quilted, the seeds are sown in beds or in cold frames. Recently, it has been used more and more often to sow seeds directly into the ground. There are three ways of sowing seeds and growing rootstocks: bed cultivation, inline and row-belt. Seeds in rows are sown every 2-3 cm, and the row spacing is from 50 do 70 cm.
The choice of cultivation method depends on the need for land use, seed sowing density and the expected degree of mechanization of the most labor-intensive tending treatments.
The seeds of stone trees are sown quite often right after they are extracted from the fruit or after several weeks of stratification before the soil freezes.. The process of post-maturation or its completion of seeds then proceeds under natural conditions. After sowing and covering the seeds with soil, they should be protected against birds and voles,
and for the winter, especially snowless, also against freezing.
The standard of sowing seeds on 1 ha depends on their arrangement in rows, germination capacity and number of seeds in 1 kilograms. On 1 ha is seeded from 30 do 40 kg of apple or pear seeds, 180-300 kg of cherries, 100-200 kg of anti-pairs and from 250 do 400 kg of weight. Great attention should be paid to the correct sowing depth. Seeds sown too deep and with reduced germination energy emerge very difficult.