Re:7k varieties of apples and the 18 you need to know about ...
by hazza_n_dazza on Saturday January 01, 2022 @06:19PM
(#29763911)
you could leave one branch Antonovka, and graft multiple different varieties to the same rootstock
They are used as rootstock because they are deep rooted, drought tolerant, and very cold hardy. Conveniently, Antonovka are also one of the few apple varieties that tends to grow true from seed. This makes propagating them as rootstock much easier, since it's very fast and easy to plant seeds rather than making clones. Here's an article that talks up the use of Antonovka as a rootstock: http://www.kuffelcreekapplenursery.com/rootstocks.htm.
I've got 20 Antonovka ordered for next spring that I'm planning to graft to. Perhaps I should leave one whole and see what it produces --- like most Americans, I've never eaten one.