Which Rootstock Should I Use? A Guide to available rootstock seeds

by Paramount Seeds on Jul 20 2026

Which Rootstock Should I Use? A Guide to Rootstock at Paramount Seeds

Choosing the right rootstock is one of the most important decisions you'll make for a grafted crop. The rootstock influences plant vigour, disease resistance, fruit size, and how long your crop will produce. At Paramount Seeds, we carry rootstocks for tomato, pepper, and cucurbit crops. Here's a complete guide to every variety we stock and when to use each one.

TOMATO ROOTSTOCKS

Maxifort F1 (available in pelleted and non-pelleted seed)
Vendor: De Ruiter | Vigour: Very High

Maxifort is one of the most vigorous rootstocks available and the most popular tomato rootstock in North America. It's built for growers chasing maximum yield from long-season crops.

Use Maxifort when:

You're running a long-season greenhouse or year-round hydroponic crop
You're growing a weak or generative scion variety that needs a vigour boost
You want to extend the harvest window and improve summer production
You're growing in soil or rockwool

Resistances: ToMV, Cladosporium (C5), Verticillium (Va, Vd), Fusarium (Fol 1,2), Fusarium crown rot (For), root-knot nematodes (Ma, Mi, Mj), Corky Root (Pl)

Multifort F1 (available in pelleted and non-pelleted seed)
Vendor: De Ruiter | Vigour: Very High (similar to Maxifort)

Multifort matches Maxifort in vigour but adds Fusarium Race 3 resistance — making it the go-to choice when Fusarium 3 is a known problem in your soil.

Use Multifort when:

You're growing in soil with a history of Fusarium Race 3
You need the vigour of Maxifort but with broader Fusarium coverage
You want to expand plant life and increase average fruit weight in soil crops
Nematode resistance is also required alongside Fusarium 3 protection

Resistances: ToMV, Cladosporium (C5), Verticillium (Va, Vd), Fusarium (Fol 1,2,3), Fusarium crown rot (For), root-knot nematodes (Ma, Mi, Mj), Corky Root (Pl), Pto

Kaiser F1 (available in pelleted and non-pelleted seed)
Vendor: Rijk Zwaan | Vigour: Balanced/High

Kaiser is bred specifically for long cultivation cycles and market segments where large fruit size is a priority. Its balanced, generative nature makes it easier to steer in a controlled environment.

Use Kaiser when:

You're running a long-season greenhouse crop targeting large fruit size
You're growing hydroponically and want early, high production
You need a well-balanced, generative plant that's easy to manage
You prefer non-pelleted seed for your propagation setup

Resistances (HR): ToMV (0–2), Fusarium (Fol 0,1), Fusarium crown rot (For), Corky Root (Pl), Verticillium (Va, Vd)
Resistances (IR): Root-knot nematodes (Ma, Mi, Mj)

Estamino F1 (available in pelleted and non-pelleted seed)
Vendor: Enza Zaden | Vigour: High, Generative

Estamino is the rootstock of choice for growers who struggle with excessive vegetative growth. It's vigorous but has a positive generative effect on the scion — keeping plants balanced and productive right through to the end of the season.

Use Estamino when:

You consistently battle overly vegetative crops that are hard to control
You want steady, consistent production without sacrificing vigour
You're growing in soil or substrate on long cultivation cycles
You need broad disease resistance including TSWV intermediate resistance

Resistances (HR): ToMV, Cladosporium (Ff: A–E), Verticillium (Va, Vd), Fusarium (Fol 0–2), Fusarium crown rot (For)
Resistances (IR): Root-knot nematodes (Ma, Mi, Mj), TSWV, Corky Root (Pl)
Wilt resistance: Yes

DR0141TX F1 (available in pelleted and non-pelleted seed)
Vendor: De Ruiter | Vigour: High

DR0141TX is De Ruiter's highest yield-potential rootstock when properly managed. It's designed to increase the vigour and endurance of the scion across both vegetative and generative variety types — making it highly versatile for long crops.

Use DR0141TX when:

You want the highest yield potential from your grafted crop
You're growing a long-season crop with either a vegetative or generative scion
You need Fusarium crown rot and Corky Root resistance without full nematode HR
You prefer pelleted seed for precision sowing (pelleted option available)

Resistances (HR): Fusarium crown rot (For), Corky Root (Pl), ToMV (0–2)
Resistances (IR): Root-knot nematodes (Ma, Mi, Mj)

TOMATO ROOTSTOCK QUICK COMPARISON

PEPPER ROOTSTOCKS

Bedrock F1 (RZ 52-04)
Vendor: Rijk Zwaan | Effect on graft: Generative

Bedrock is the first Tm3-resistant pepper rootstock available, making it the essential choice when Tomato mosaic virus strain 3 is a concern. It also carries TSWV resistance — reducing infection risk at the nursery stage — and has a generative effect that improves earliness in late, vigorous varieties.

Use Bedrock when:

You need Tm3 resistance in your pepper rootstock
You want to reduce TSWV infection risk at the nursery
You're growing late or vigorous pepper varieties and want to improve earliness
You're running spring, summer, or mild winter growing cycles
You need nematode and Phytophthora intermediate resistance

Resistances (HR): PVY (0,1), ToMV (0–3)
Resistances (IR): TSWV, Phytophthora (Pc), root-knot nematodes (Ma, Mi, Mj)

Foundation F1 (RZ 52-03)
Vendor: Rijk Zwaan | Effect on graft: Compact, Generative

Foundation is a first-generation pepper rootstock that produces a compact, highly generative plant. It's a straightforward, reliable choice for spring and summer pepper production where a strong root system and nematode resistance are the primary needs.

Use Foundation when:

You're running spring or summer pepper cycles
You want a compact, generative plant that's easy to manage
Tm3 resistance is not required (Tm0 only)
You need nematode and Phytophthora resistance in a simpler, proven rootstock

Resistances (HR): PVY (0,1), ToMV (Tm0)
Resistances (IR): Phytophthora (Pc), root-knot nematodes (Ma, Mi, Mj)

CUCURBIT ROOTSTOCK

Flexifort F1 (non-pelleted)
Vendor: Enza Zaden | Crop: Cucumber, Melon, Watermelon

Flexifort is an interspecific Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata cross bred specifically for cucumber, melon, and watermelon growers. It delivers increased vigour, longer crop life, and a high return of first-quality fruit, while also providing tolerance to abiotic stresses like drought, temperature extremes, and salinity.

Use Flexifort when:

You're grafting cucumber, melon, or watermelon
You want a longer, healthier crop with more first-quality fruit
You're growing in conditions with soil-borne Fusarium disease pressure
You need abiotic stress tolerance — drought, temperature swings, or high salinity
You want a rootstock that combines well with a wide range of cucurbit varieties

Resistances (HR): Fusarium wilt melon (Fom 0–2, 1.2), Fusarium wilt cucumber (Fon 0,1), Fusarium wilt watermelon (Foc)
Resistances (IR): Fusarium crown rot cucumber (Forc)

Tips for Successful Grafting

Sow rootstock seeds 2–4 days before your scion variety so both stems reach the same diameter at grafting time
Graft when stems are 2–3mm in diameter (roughly the thickness of a matchstick)
Maintain a healing chamber at 25–27°C with 95%+ humidity and low light for 5–7 days post-graft
Always remove the rootstock growing tip below the graft union to prevent rootstock shoots from dominating
Harden off grafted transplants gradually before moving to final growing positions

Need Help Choosing?

Browse our full rootstock selection at Paramount Seeds — available in multiple pack sizes. If you're unsure which rootstock suits your crop and growing system, reach out and we'll help you find the right fit.

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