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nafex - [NAFEX] Make a four-on-one apple tree

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  • From: "Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>
  • To: "NAFEX" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [NAFEX] Make a four-on-one apple tree
  • Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:27:21 -0500

Some of us don't want a whole tree full of apples all ripe at the same time. I wanted an apple tree that started ripening in late July and finished ripening in October. Here is how I accomplished it:
From a local nursery, I bought two apple trees that were growing in nursery cans (bare-root would have been fine but nurseries near here don't offer bare-root tree). These were two varieties that I wanted to have fruit from. I planted them 20' feet apart and, the following Spring, I sheared both off at about 18" above the graft. The tree's immediate response was to produce a flurry of new sprouts and, throughout the following growing season, I continually removed any sprouts that grew from below the graft.
The following Spring, I ordered scion wood. My objective was to have fruit ripening starting in Late July, then Early August, Mid-August, Late August, Early September, Mid-September, Late September and Early October (Here in zone 3 we can expect really hard frost in October so later ripening apples are out of the question).
First, I selected the branch that I wanted to keep, the original apple variety. Then I selected three other branches that were as close to 90 degrees apart from each other as possible and grafted the scions on these three. All other branches/sprouts were removed. It took a three tries to get one scion variety to take. Now I enjoy ripening apples for over a two and one half month time span. I have since planted other apple trees but these two are my favorites and the branches are all 4" in diameter.
One potential problem with making a four-on-one tree is that each branch is very close in height to the others and we are warned that high winds could easily(?) split such a tree. That hasn't happened (yet?) even though a nearby maple tree was snapped in half by straight-line winds.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]






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