Which varieties make good root-stock, for grafting?

[tomatoguy]

I would be interested to know which plants, in your experience, have the most awesome root systems. I may do some grafting next year but I prefer to try something original. I'm sure the commercial root stock varieties are great but I also know there are some standard heirloom varieties with awesome root systems. I have seen monstrous roots on Granny Cantrell's German Red, Polish C and Roger's Best Black. Care to add any more to the list?

mater

[beeman]

It's not just a case of 'an awesome' root stock, but disease resistance as well. Do your suggestions have recognised disease resistance?

[tomatoguy]

None, other than anecdotal. I'm not too concerned about disease resistance or tolerance. I rarely see any diseases here, aside from occasional Early Blight.

mater

[tlintx]

I don't know about roots, but when I cut my Homestead down to four inches above the ground, it started growing back. Like, the next day. Love that plant. I'm going to grow it as long as it lives.


Tl

[JamesL]

I read a paper last year where Cherokee Purple did very well as a root stock on field trials.

[dice]

Anecdotal evidence on Granny Cantrell: RKN resistance. Someone
reported out of a garden full of heirlooms, only Granny Cantrell
had no RKN galls on the roots when they pulled the plants.
(Somewhere rural in California, I think.) Could be just luck,
or it could be that it has RKN resistance.