Semi-dwarf Pears are created by grafting European Pear varieties on quince rootstocks, a technique which has been used for many years.
Quince A (approx. 70% of seedling) and Quince C (approximately 60% of seedling) are among the most common of the clonal quince stocks. While generally good performers there are a couple of challenges associated with quince stocks.
- Quince rootstock are not compatible with many important European pear scion cultivars such as Williams, Beurre Bosc and Packham. This is overcome with the use of interstems of compatible cultivars. There is also a Williams clone that is compatible with quince stocks.
- Quince rootstocks are also susceptible to lime induced chlorosis, which is associated with alkaline soils (high pH) or excessive use of lime producing soils with PH above 7.
From our research we believe the following to be compatible and therefore suitable to graft directly onto quince stocks:
- Beurre D'Anjou
- Beurré Diel
- Beurre Easter
- Beurre Hardy
- Beurre Superfin
- Conference
- Doyenne Du Commice
- Duchess D’Anglouleme
- Durondeau
- Flemish Beauty
- Glou Morceau
- Keiffer
- Howell
- Josephine de Malines
- Red D’Anjou
- Williams Compatible
- Winter Nelis (Bonne De Malines)
All our other varieties of semi-dwarf pear are produced with an interstem graft. As is common in the industry we use either Beurre Hardy or Doyenne Du Commice as the interstem bridge between the incompatible variety and the quince rootstock.