M 4 rootstock – a medium-vigour variant, developed at the East Malling Research Station in England and part of the M series rootstocks. It is characterised by moderate vigour, making it ideal for intensive orchard management where dense planting without excessive tree growth is required.
Trees on M 4 rootstock bear fruit from the third to fourth year after planting. Consequently, they quickly produce high-quality yields: the apples have good flavour and texture, as well as stable productivity. With moderate care, the plant demonstrates resilience to climatic stresses and does not require special growing conditions.
M 4 rootstock is suitable for various climate zones, however, when selecting it soil conditions should be taken into account: it is undemanding and capable of adapting to different soil types. Thanks to the medium growth of trees, they can be placed 1–1.5 m apart from each other, allowing up to 20 plants per hectare in intensive orchard management. This makes M 4 a profitable choice for both small plots and large commercial areas where maximum yield on limited area is important.
