Graft multiple apple varieties on one tree vs plant 2 trees in a hole?

2 years ago

I want to add an apple tree in the spring, I only have room for 1 dwarf to semidwarf tree.

I want a second variety to ensure pollinization and also just because I like variety and suffer from addiction to planting exotic fruiting stuff. Am I better off planting 2 varieties in the same hole or grafting another variety or two to one tree in a year or two?

I tried grafting figs a few years ago and didnt have much success otherwise dont have much experience grafting. How many varieties would be too many, and any considerations on what size rootstock to use with grafting or planting in the same hole? If I graft i was thinking about using a disease resistant variety like liberty as the base and then adding a couple exotic varieties to it.

I tend to like sweet tart apples, i wanted a variety that is disease resistant and reliable and maybe something exotic that you dont see often. so i was thinking liberty, empire or goldrush with maybe ashmeads kernal or golden russet as I've seen them come up as being tasty in old threads a lot. Any thoughts on these or other really good varieties to look at? live in midwest zone 5

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Comments (2)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
2 years ago
Horticulturally speaking, planting multiple trees in the same hole is not a sound practice. Root competition and crowding will result in trees consistently under stress with subsequent increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. And with poor fruit production.

Multi-graft apples are widely available from most major vendors so that is the easiest option. However, you do not always have your choice of apple varieties and usually have to stick with what the grower provides, generally those that will successfully pollinate each other. Typically you can pick from as few as 2 different apples to as many as 5 or 7 (semi dwarf or standard only).

As to what apples to choose, your county extension service is best able to help you with that. Not all apples will grow well or be equally productive in all areas, so best to get local recommendations on what does best in your specific locale.
John D Zn6a PIT Pa
2 years ago
Either choice is doable.

As far as grafting you can buy a rootstock and also buy scions. I have grafted two scions to a rootstock and they took. You could also buy a feathered bare root tree and graft a scion to that. If you buy a tree buy a feathered grade tree so that you have multiple branches to graft to. The scion, "don't pronounce the "s", is a twig from the variety that you want to reproduce.

I planted two holes with 4 apple varieties in the same hole last year and all 8 took. They were 4 hard cider varieties and 4 antique sports of Red Delicious. I did this because I don't need all that many apples of any of the hard cider apples as most of the apples in a a blend are sweet/desert apples. And the Red Delicious sports were to test my theory that the loss of taste was because the current sports in the stores are apples that "color before ripening" which means they can be picked before ripening.

if you google grafting two scions to one rootstock use the search term : interstem. That's usually done to have a large root system with a dwarf or semi-dwarf rootstock grafted to that and then a fruit variety above the two different rootstocks. If you want more grafting info google "whip and tongue graft.

Seems to me biggest problem in grafting is getting scions that were shipped in January and having to wait till March or April to get the rootstocks. Not sure if the problem is drying out or they're no longer dormant. I just use a retractable safety knife and bought grafting tape on eBay. The wider the tape the easier. i also made a finger guard from the bottom of a plastic 1/2 gallon milk jug.

I've done a lot of business with Fedco Trees. They sell bare root trees, rootstocks, and scions. But they have a minimum rootstock order of 10 trees. They have the trees you mentioned in both bare root trees and scions. Also Cummins Nursery sells trees, rootstocks in onesies, but only a few scion varieties. Fedco will ship rootstocks and scions in the same order and you can pick March or April shipment. Do your grafting as soon as you get both items. After grafting I wait 3 weeks to heal the graft and then put them in the ground.
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Graft multiple apple varieties on one tree vs plant 2 trees in a hole?

Comments (2)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

John D Zn6a PIT Pa

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