MALLING ROOTSTOCK PRODUCTION
Willow Drive Nursery has been producing virus certified clonal dwarf rootstocks since 1964 in Washington's fertile Columbia Basin. Willow Drive has continued producing the worlds finest rootstock and kept up with the latest horticultural breakthroughs.

Willow Drive Nursery has increased its production from 100,000 rootstocks in the early years to 5 million rootstocks at present. Dwarf apple stool bed production represents about 60% of the total and seedling production represents 40%. The rootstocks grown by Willow Drive are sold to nurseries in both the fruit and ornamental industries. Our stooling beds are started with virus free plant material and are tested for virus continually. Clonal apple rootstocks are grown as a one year crop and are harvested when the plants are fully dormant. Willow Drive uses state of the art equipment in growing and harvesting and storing its clonal apple rootstock.

SEEDLING PRODUCTION
Virus free seed orchards for cherry and plum rootstocks are maintained at Willow Drive Nursery. As the basis for virus free seedling production. Every tree in the orchard is tested for virus infection yearly. If a tree becomes infected by pollen transfer at bloom time, it can be determined by test the following Winter and infected trees are removed prior to bloom time the following Spring. Willow Drives isolated location provides an ideal environment for raising virus free seed.

The seed is Fall planted and allowed to stratify in the field over Winter to enhance germination. The seedling rootstocks are grown as a one year crop, harvested in the Fall when fully dormant, and stored in a refrigerated and humidity controlled facility.