multi-variety fruit trees.

[mopinko]

(x-post from gardening)

so, i have some whips to plant at the farm, a peach, a pair of early apples, and 3 sweet cherries. i have a mature montmorency in my yard, as well as an italian plum that gives me no fruit . (did some root surgery this winter. fingers crossed.) i will add a few more later this year, probably 5 year olds. i plan on about 20 altogether, mostly dwarf, or dwarfed by pruning.
i am thinking i would i would like to add a large multi-variety apple. or maybe a plum. really looking for the mid-future crop while i wait on the whips.

have seen a few apples in common varieties, but i would really like to get some of the more unusual apples out there. one good for drying, particularly, and a good pie/canner. a good eater, of course. (room for a single or two, but...)
pretty much same would go for a plum. i love plums. just that apples keep better. plums likely wouldn't make it that far, tho. (so you see my problem.)
i have kept quite a few things way under budget so far, so i could splurge on this tree if i could find just the right one. gonna call a couple of the local good greenhouses. but would like opinions of varieties, and on the concept.

[Denninmi]

1. I think they're great.

I have a "fruit cocktail" tree of stone fruits. It originally came with 5 kinds, a peach, an apricot, a nectarine, Stanley prune plum, and a Japanese plum of some kind. The nectarine graft died the year after I planted it, but the rest have thrived. Its a fun little tree, and amazingly productive. Getting kind of old, and I would definitely do more after it goes, I just enjoy the novelty of it -- freaks people out.

I think its a really great way for people with less space to get multiple types for pollination purposes, as well as diversity of fruit.

I planted two 5 on 1 apple trees two springs ago. Each has different types, one more summer varieties, one fall. I found them, of all places, at Meijer on sale for $18 each in June -- I wasn't expecting anything like that from a big box garden center, just random chance they would actually carry something worthwhile.

They have some buds this spring, barring this crazy weather might produce a handful of apples, but they're still kind of small.

We had a multi-graft apple when I was really little. It was a four on one or five on one. My idiot father decided to shape it up and prune it, and pruned all but 2 of the grafts right off. So, it became a 2 on 1 red and yellow delicious.

The only issue I see with these trees is that 1) make sure you don't do what my father did, and 2) because the vigor of the varieties varies, you have to be careful that no one is getting lost in there, blocked from the sun and covered up by a more vigorous variety near-by. Just be sure to prune carefully and it will work out fine.

[mopinko]

2. i just saw this article-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002540800

i had given a lot of thought to grafting a different plum onto my barren plum. i wonder if it would work. i think i may order a couple whips and give it a try.

[mopinko]

3. so, i got a 4 way asian pear.

it is a good size, and we should get some pears next year. it is espalier, which i think is a little limiting, but i do have a good spot for it, so it is all good.
i also ordered a couple whips to try my hand at grafting. i have a very strong sour cherry in the yard that i pruned quite a bit last year. i have a great spot where several new branches are sprouting. i am going to take a stab at raniers. they are my favorite cherry. not that hardy in this zone, but i am in a little microzone that should be ok for them. have high hopes for this one.
also bought a couple different types of plum that i will graft onto an existing plum tree. the tree has been a dud, but i think i may have figured out why. it was hastily planted, and likely has some girdling roots. i did a big pruning on one side this winter, and it seems to have survived fine. so, hopefully the tree will wake up now. anyway, gonna graft a couple whips on and see how it goes. seems like a good skill for someone establishing an orchard to cultivate, so imma get some practice.

[Denninmi]

4. What are the varieties on the pear?

???

[mopinko]

5. i'll have to check the tags.

i do not usually buy asian pears, mostly due to the expense. so i am not that familiar with the varieties. will check and let you know.