Every year I attend a California Rare Fruit Growers Scion Exchange, so many unpatented varieties of apples, pears, stonefruit, grapes, figs, kiwi and some exotics. They sell rootstocks there as well, so I’ve made a quite a few multigrafted trees for about $5 and have rooted grapes, mulberries and kiwis. I’m assuming there are similar groups in other states.
California has a lot of scion exchanges statewide. Growing fruit in CA is very cultural. I wish this cultural mentality would take over other locations. If you look at Google Maps satellite views of homes in California, it's clear there are fruit trees *everywhere.* You can see even the tiniest yards with little orchards in there. You don't see that in many other places. I wish this mentality would catch on. You don't need California weather to grow fruit. Anyone can grow apples, peaches, persimmons, pears, plums, etc.
I have 4 multi grafted trees, they're great starters, but just started multi grafting & would recommend doing it yourself... Multigrafted trees often have to be grown a little less spread out so they can fit in the shipping box. Also, apparently you can grow almonds peaches cherries and plums all on the same tree!
You can do it yourself, but it usually isn't economically viable. You'd have to buy a tree, then source scion wood (which often is difficult to do), then wait for all the grafts to take, etc. Making a multi-grafted fruit tree can often cost as much if not more as buying the tree, and it will take 1-2 years to make. If you're fortunate enough to live in areas where there are fruit growers and scion exchanges, it's great, but it would be quite difficult for the average person with no connections. I did this with my Asian pear tree, and it's been a year and a half in the making, and probably still won't fruit this season. By the time it actually fruits, it'll be a 2-3 year project that cost me as much as 2 fruit trees. But, it's a passion project for me.
@@2MinuteGardenTips Yes, but you can buy Scion wood online, which is what I did since I'm a truck driver and don't have any connections either. I just drafted eight cheap trees from TSC for the price of four trees from online.
I have 4 grafted fruit trees. 2 five variety apple trees a 5 variety cherry tree and a now 6 variety plum. While its true grafted trees guve more varieties, what usually happens is one ot two varieties will significantly dominate your tree and you won't get much of tye others. I have ten years experience growing multiple variety combo trees
That's true if you don't manage the grafts properly. You must keep the individual grafts at roughly equal lengths to ensure one variety does not become apically dominant. That isn't a problem with the tree, though. That's a problem with the gardener. You must read the instructions that come with the tree.
Just be sure to manage the grafts properly. You can't let one become dominant, or it will suppress the others. You must keep them at roughly equal lengths, which will involve annual pruning as well as some summer pruning if one becomes too vigorous.
I enjoy these 2 Minute Garden Tip videos. Great information! Also just finished watching again “Planting ASPARAGUS From Start To Finish [COMPLETE GUIDE]”. Question: When is a good time to place mulch on the asparagus raised bed? Thanks so much!
I should add some info about multi fruit trees that I learned the hard way. You must prune these multi trees very carefully and fairly often. Some varieties are more vigorous than others and so some branches grow much larger and faster than others on the same tree. I have examples in my backyard of multi trees where one species branch is as big as my arm and another species branch is as big as my thumb. the trees cam become very lopsided. I now prune the vigorous branches a couple of times through the summer to reduce their vigor and the small branches are catching up. But if you want a large number of fruit varieties in your backyard nothing beats multi trees. A couple weeks ago I counted the number of different fruits I grow in my backyard and was very surprised to find I have 60 varieties! Another little hint is to buy your multi trees from different nurseries as they all have different varieties to use for graft stock. For example, I have 4 pear trees that each have 5 varieties on them and only 3 duplicates in the 20 different species for a total of 17 types of pear from only 4 trees bought at different nurseries.
It varies. I have ordered from dozens of online nurseries over the years. You often have to check many of them, because no online nursery carries everything I want. I must've ordered from 6 different nurseries this year alone to get all the unique varieties I want. It adds up to a lot of shipping fees, but I'm willing to pay more for the best varieties. I have a big list of all the nurseries I order from here: ruclips.net/video/VPxfnDXYxUs/видео.htmlsi=VaQvSEkt_2T4SWQg
Correct. Santa Rosa plums can pollinate most pluots, as well as pluerries. That's because these interspecific hybrids use Japanese plums in their lineage. But, I didn't want to grow a Santa Rosa plum tree 😄
No. You will have to aggressively prune them every year to keep them under control. Keep in mind growing fruit from seed is very expensive and time-consuming. A seed-grown orange won't bear fruit for at least 10+ years, so you will have to baby and care for that tree for over a decade just to get your first fruit. And, you may find out your orange was cross-pollinated and you'll get a weird, seedy hybrid with bad flavor. I strongly advise you only grow grafted citrus trees. You will get fruit within 1-2 years of guaranteed quality and you can get the rootstock you want. Grafted trees save tons of time, money and effort.
Or just look for other sources of Vitamin C in a heated greenhouse, in Michigan winters. Trying to figure out year round sustainable food sources for this climate.
Grafting is harder then it looks. I have a 6 variety tree of plum (started as a 5 variety) the sixth we attempted to graft. Took 15 grafts to get two to take
It is a skill. Timing plays a big role. Grafting in winter often fails due to lack of sap flow. Grafting when it’s warm also often fails, because the sap flow floods the graft. Grafting is best coming out of winter into spring when sap flow is returning enough to maintain the graft but not flood it. From there, it’s really about getting the cambium layers to match.
We are trying a multigrafted pear tree with 4 varieties this year. Question: are you seeing that these trees are more vulnerable to damage from various weather events? Those against them caution about this. TIA.
There is nothing about a multi-grafted fruit tree that will make it more vulnerable. Most fruit trees you buy from nurseries are grafted - they are just a single grafted variety. These trees will be grafted in more than one place, but that won't make the tree weaker in any way as long as the grafts have healed over properly (which these have). The only way you'll have a problem with multi-grafted trees is if you do not manage the branches properly. If one graft grows more vigorously than others, it can "take over" and the other grafts may die off. You have to prune the fruit tree grafts back to equal lengths at the end of each season and also keep an eye on them to make sure one graft doesn't grow too vigorously and overtake the tree. Those that are against multi-grafted trees probably didn't read the instructions that came with the tree and failed to manage the growth correctly.
When you buy multi-grafted fruit trees, you must very carefully manage the individual branches and prune them at the end of each season to be the same length. Otherwise, one may become dominant, which will cause the others to die off. If you do not manage them properly, you'll wind up with a fruit tree with only one or two varieties. If you did not manage the grafts and prune the tree annually according to the instructions, you may have lost the other varieties.
Grafting is like tying shoes. It's hard the first few times, but then it becomes muscle memory. The best way to get good at grafting is to graft. Don't fear it. Practice. It's fun, and they sell grafting tool kits on Amazon for $25-30. I have one I use in my Amazon Storefront and it's been nearly 100%. I've only ever had 1 graft fail using that tool.
If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" it and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching! 😀
Every year I attend a California Rare Fruit Growers Scion Exchange, so many unpatented varieties of apples, pears, stonefruit, grapes, figs, kiwi and some exotics. They sell rootstocks there as well, so I’ve made a quite a few multigrafted trees for about $5 and have rooted grapes, mulberries and kiwis. I’m assuming there are similar groups in other states.
That is awesome I wonder how to find something like this in Missouri
California has a lot of scion exchanges statewide. Growing fruit in CA is very cultural. I wish this cultural mentality would take over other locations. If you look at Google Maps satellite views of homes in California, it's clear there are fruit trees *everywhere.* You can see even the tiniest yards with little orchards in there. You don't see that in many other places. I wish this mentality would catch on. You don't need California weather to grow fruit. Anyone can grow apples, peaches, persimmons, pears, plums, etc.
Thanks for this awesome info! I will definitely be at a California fruit tree show like that this year!
Nice information thenks ❤
You're welcome!
I have 4 multi grafted trees, they're great starters, but just started multi grafting & would recommend doing it yourself... Multigrafted trees often have to be grown a little less spread out so they can fit in the shipping box. Also, apparently you can grow almonds peaches cherries and plums all on the same tree!
You can do it yourself, but it usually isn't economically viable. You'd have to buy a tree, then source scion wood (which often is difficult to do), then wait for all the grafts to take, etc. Making a multi-grafted fruit tree can often cost as much if not more as buying the tree, and it will take 1-2 years to make. If you're fortunate enough to live in areas where there are fruit growers and scion exchanges, it's great, but it would be quite difficult for the average person with no connections.
I did this with my Asian pear tree, and it's been a year and a half in the making, and probably still won't fruit this season. By the time it actually fruits, it'll be a 2-3 year project that cost me as much as 2 fruit trees. But, it's a passion project for me.
@@2MinuteGardenTips Yes, but you can buy Scion wood online, which is what I did since I'm a truck driver and don't have any connections either. I just drafted eight cheap trees from TSC for the price of four trees from online.
I have 4 grafted fruit trees. 2 five variety apple trees a 5 variety cherry tree and a now 6 variety plum. While its true grafted trees guve more varieties, what usually happens is one ot two varieties will significantly dominate your tree and you won't get much of tye others. I have ten years experience growing multiple variety combo trees
That's true if you don't manage the grafts properly. You must keep the individual grafts at roughly equal lengths to ensure one variety does not become apically dominant. That isn't a problem with the tree, though. That's a problem with the gardener. You must read the instructions that come with the tree.
Great tip, MG!😃
Thanks!
Brilliant! I’ll consider this option
Just be sure to manage the grafts properly. You can't let one become dominant, or it will suppress the others. You must keep them at roughly equal lengths, which will involve annual pruning as well as some summer pruning if one becomes too vigorous.
Isons Nursery in Brooks GA has multigrafted trees ready to go.
I wish I had a big nursery like that locally!
Very good information. Wish I had known about this 2 years ago.
Thanks for sharing this information!! I have 26 fruit trees (12 different varieties). I’ll pick a couple to experiment with.
I enjoy these 2 Minute Garden Tip videos. Great information! Also just finished watching again “Planting ASPARAGUS From Start To Finish [COMPLETE GUIDE]”. Question: When is a good time to place mulch on the asparagus raised bed? Thanks so much!
Thank you MG! 😊👍👍
Thanks for the info! I didn't know this! 🥰
Wow great video. I didn’t know this was possible.
Home Depot is selling a Fruit Cocktail tree for $50.00, plum, peach, nectarine and apricot.
Do you have to have two peach trees in order for them to pollinate?
Tks great info
Can I graft my lemon branch to a non fruit tree ? Does grafting bring fruiting earlier?
I should add some info about multi fruit trees that I learned the hard way. You must prune these multi trees very carefully and fairly often. Some varieties are more vigorous than others and so some branches grow much larger and faster than others on the same tree. I have examples in my backyard of multi trees where one species branch is as big as my arm and another species branch is as big as my thumb. the trees cam become very lopsided. I now prune the vigorous branches a couple of times through the summer to reduce their vigor and the small branches are catching up. But if you want a large number of fruit varieties in your backyard nothing beats multi trees. A couple weeks ago I counted the number of different fruits I grow in my backyard and was very surprised to find I have 60 varieties! Another little hint is to buy your multi trees from different nurseries as they all have different varieties to use for graft stock. For example, I have 4 pear trees that each have 5 varieties on them and only 3 duplicates in the 20 different species for a total of 17 types of pear from only 4 trees bought at different nurseries.
Where do you find these kinds of trees
It varies. I have ordered from dozens of online nurseries over the years. You often have to check many of them, because no online nursery carries everything I want. I must've ordered from 6 different nurseries this year alone to get all the unique varieties I want. It adds up to a lot of shipping fees, but I'm willing to pay more for the best varieties. I have a big list of all the nurseries I order from here: ruclips.net/video/VPxfnDXYxUs/видео.htmlsi=VaQvSEkt_2T4SWQg
Flavor king also can be pollinated by Santa Rosa plum I believe.
Correct. Santa Rosa plums can pollinate most pluots, as well as pluerries. That's because these interspecific hybrids use Japanese plums in their lineage. But, I didn't want to grow a Santa Rosa plum tree 😄
@2MinuteGardenTips what don't you like about the Santa rosa plum tree? I just got one. Hopefully it's good.
I know you have a video on pruning your fruit trees. But is there a way to keep an orange tree like the ones you have dwarfed, if you start from seed?
No. You will have to aggressively prune them every year to keep them under control. Keep in mind growing fruit from seed is very expensive and time-consuming. A seed-grown orange won't bear fruit for at least 10+ years, so you will have to baby and care for that tree for over a decade just to get your first fruit. And, you may find out your orange was cross-pollinated and you'll get a weird, seedy hybrid with bad flavor. I strongly advise you only grow grafted citrus trees. You will get fruit within 1-2 years of guaranteed quality and you can get the rootstock you want. Grafted trees save tons of time, money and effort.
@@2MinuteGardenTips Thank you for the quick response! What about the Rooted cuttings? I guess I need to learn how to do root stock and grafting.
Or just look for other sources of Vitamin C in a heated greenhouse, in Michigan winters. Trying to figure out year round sustainable food sources for this climate.
Grafting is harder then it looks. I have a 6 variety tree of plum (started as a 5 variety) the sixth we attempted to graft. Took 15 grafts to get two to take
It is a skill. Timing plays a big role. Grafting in winter often fails due to lack of sap flow. Grafting when it’s warm also often fails, because the sap flow floods the graft. Grafting is best coming out of winter into spring when sap flow is returning enough to maintain the graft but not flood it. From there, it’s really about getting the cambium layers to match.
I have a 5 in 1 apple tree. A 4 in 1 cherry tree and a 4 in 1 pear tree.
We are trying a multigrafted pear tree with 4 varieties this year. Question: are you seeing that these trees are more vulnerable to damage from various weather events? Those against them caution about this. TIA.
There is nothing about a multi-grafted fruit tree that will make it more vulnerable. Most fruit trees you buy from nurseries are grafted - they are just a single grafted variety. These trees will be grafted in more than one place, but that won't make the tree weaker in any way as long as the grafts have healed over properly (which these have). The only way you'll have a problem with multi-grafted trees is if you do not manage the branches properly. If one graft grows more vigorously than others, it can "take over" and the other grafts may die off. You have to prune the fruit tree grafts back to equal lengths at the end of each season and also keep an eye on them to make sure one graft doesn't grow too vigorously and overtake the tree. Those that are against multi-grafted trees probably didn't read the instructions that came with the tree and failed to manage the growth correctly.
I've had a couple of these multi trees. The one I have now produces one type of plum, the other branches produced nothing.
When you buy multi-grafted fruit trees, you must very carefully manage the individual branches and prune them at the end of each season to be the same length. Otherwise, one may become dominant, which will cause the others to die off. If you do not manage them properly, you'll wind up with a fruit tree with only one or two varieties. If you did not manage the grafts and prune the tree annually according to the instructions, you may have lost the other varieties.
👍
I said I’m gonna have to find a video now that tells me how to do grafting🙄
Anthony, you are great! Grafting...that's so hard! I have tried and failed soooo many times. My respects❤🦋🪻🙏🐕❤
Grafting is like tying shoes. It's hard the first few times, but then it becomes muscle memory. The best way to get good at grafting is to graft. Don't fear it. Practice. It's fun, and they sell grafting tool kits on Amazon for $25-30. I have one I use in my Amazon Storefront and it's been nearly 100%. I've only ever had 1 graft fail using that tool.