Finally buying apple trees

Hi
At the moment I have ballyvaughan seeding I bought last winter and a fiesta I bought a few years before that slight scab but doing well , I had a red devil and a james grieves that cankered and died within a couple of years,
So this season I was wanting one irish apple and one from somewhere in the UK, I decided on sam young mm106 rootstock and bardsy m26 rootstock as they seem to be resistant varitys for my conditions, I live in a area with some inland exposure but hedges I planted a few years ago are providing some shelter , soil is clay and is a wet climate and a bit cooler than other parts of northern ireland north antrim area, are my picks correct our is there better apples to buy, just so you know I am in northern ireland so unfortunately I can't order trees from rest of the UK just hear and Republic of Ireland,

Thanks in advance

 

As part of brexit the UK government created a sort of trading border between us and rest uk meaning plants would have to get certicates as they do if plants move from other countries so no company wants to pay for that so knowbody sends plants to normal customers now

 

I know knowbody sells saint edmund's russet/pippin apple over hear and have always wanted one but its freely available in england where they don't send to us lol

 

Can you not buy from mainland Europe?

 

I can but I really don't want to and not just because of larger postage cost more to buy within irish uk nurserys would rather support them. Also in a small way helps to lower risk of bio security if that's the right word

 

Not to mention lack of choice, lack of traditional UK varieties and a complete lack of interest in appropriate rootstocks!

 

Sound like interesting choices, same pollination group as your Ballyvaughan seedling so should get good pollination. I think getting from an Irish Nursery is sensible.
I look forward to hearing how it goes.

 

I really think there needs to be a bigger push for traditional varitys with the changing climate we need varitys that are adaptable not modern varitys to mach what supermarkets require, perfect shape colour with no blemishes .
I am starting to learn rootstock is half the battle with tree health weak roots weak disease resistance

 

I will keep you all updated we don't have ideal orchard weather round my way but I am determined to get right apple right place so when the trees all grow big I can spend the autumn out picking apples can't wait lol

 

There is a conservatory for old fruit tree varieties near to where I live, but obviously, they're old French varieties. What the French don't seem to have is an equivalent to the East Malling or John Innes research centres, dedicated to improving disease resistance etc. They are hot on grafting practices here, but only onto the same (very limited) rootstocks that they've been using for centuries! Strawberries, now, that's something else.....they've managed to breed enormous, completely tasteless fruit that look enticing for all of 3 days. Just long enough to sell them

 

Interestingly EMLA and MM root stock are pretty much used worldwide.
Found this on American apple root stocks Rootstocks for Apple | WSU Tree Fruit | Washington State University
and in Europe these seem to be the used ones Organic rootstocks for sale for sale, EU delivery

 

Of countries in the EU I would have thought the Dutch would be pretty well up on fruit rootstocks. At least commercially.