Stark Bro’s trees have been true to name. They’ve been small, and I don’t know if they specify the rootstock with anything more than “semi-dwarf,” but they’re consistent with basic varieties. On ‘this side’ of the Rockies, they ‘ship late’ to avoid the stock freezing over the divide …or at least that’s what I remember.

Locally; if it’s a basic variety, like Golden Delicious, I’ll trust a local retail nursery to get it right. And if I don’t care what the rootstock is, same thing. Portland Nursery’s OK, though expensive and not that well stocked beyond the basics.

For anything I plan to fall in love with, I trust only One Green World and Raintree Nurseries. I especially appreciate Jim Gilbert of O-G-W, a longtime HOS member, I still remember his inspirational presentation on Hardy and Fuzzy kiwi, Persimmons, and Figs -- thus … I’ve an orchard full! So I shop there first, and Raintree second.

When I mention purchasing ‘basic trees,’ I mean the times I’ve bought a couple well branched Yellow Delicious in a bag ($10), then grafted various varieties on (usually 3) for friends. They love it … I’ll mention I’m going to the HOS ‘Scion Exchange’ and tell them I’ll pick out some compatible ‘good ones,’ Yellow Del becomes the pollinator, they insist on reimbursing me – and everyone’s happy

…but like I said, for myself, OGW or Raintree. I’ve many a Stark Bro’s tree … but after finally getting off their mailing list… I'm tempted to stay clear

Our ‘Willamette Valley’ and ‘temperate rainforest’ conditions appear to be growing central …for about everything. I asked during a nursery tour why, for example, a local nursery is growing fruit trees for ‘South Dakota?’ He said we’ve such a long growing season they can get a good month more on either side as compared to SD and surrounding states. He also said we’ve such mild winters there’s very little loss. And though we’re known for ‘constant rain,’ our summers are very dry, often prone to drought conditions when compared to the nation. But, if they’ve dammed up a small canyon or dug a big enough irrigation pond and can pour the water to their stock, and most do, it's growth central

My assumption is ‘back East’ you’ve got such humidity compared to us (our humidity is rain, with very pleasant summers) that it adversely effects fruit trees. Also, it seems every predatory pest introduced seems to hit the East Coast first, often never making it ‘this far.’ As for our local apple production, most of that’s moved to central Washington (state) or California, it’s weird. I don’t know of any commercial apple orchards around me … though I suspect they’ve been replanted to wine vineyards… And, believe it or not, thousands of our acres have been turned into gravel packed commercial container nurseries, with hardly a ‘Ma & Pa’ set up around. These are Big Boys!

Yah, I’ve thought of Iowa as one of the richest farming communities in the US. I’ve relatives in southern Illinois, last time I was there it was soy beans, corn and hogs to every horizon … with humidity like this Orygun Native had never experienced. Great bacon, watermelons and midnight softball …but I’m still glad to be home.

Sounds like you’ve an ambitious project, how many trees do you have? …and what do you plan to do with all that produce? I had some happy well-fed deer last fall/ winter …though that had never been my intension, just too many fruit trees and too little time

I agree with Peachman and Viron: Burnt Ridge, One Green World, Raintree, for me in that order.
John S
PDX OR