North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[david liezen <chandos49@hotmail.com>]

Caren,
I certainly agree. I have yet to find one of these bargain trees tagged with 
rootstock used. As I am learning, rootstock makes a huge difference, in 
addition to the concerns you already noted. I have run across so many people 
who have been sold something that has no disease resistance, or requires 
other spraying (an orchardist near here must spray Honeycrisp weekly to keep 
up with its calcium requirements in our soil), or requires a longer growing 
season than we have. Someone down the street bought a 4-in-one which includes 
Fuji and also a Fuji on its own, which he planted 6 feet away - no clue of 
the rootstocks used. "They told me these are dwarfs." He can only hope.
 
Dave Liezen, E. WA, z6
 
> Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 11:44:50 -0400
> From: quirky@videotron.ca
> To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [NAFEX] 4 in one trees
> 
> I'm seeing more and more of the "4 in one" or "5 in one" fruit trees, 
> i.e. a pear, apple, plum or cherry with 4 or more different varieties 
> grafted. They're all over the large surface DIY stores, but they're also 
> being sold in several higher quality garden centres. Obviously trying to 
> appeal to those of us with not a lot of space that want to try fruit 
> growing. I totally get the concept.
> 
> However I question the scruples of selling these trees to an uneducated 
> public. I am by no means an expert but I am trying to learn a lot about 
> fruit growing and have investigated and have some experience with 
> certain varieties for my zone. I have seen plums with 3 japanese 
> varieties and 1 self-sterile european. How is that meant to work? They 
> have pears where only 2 out of the 4 varieties are hardy in our area. 
> Not to mention the sweet cherries which are practically all for a zone 
> or 2 warmer.
> 
> Of course then there are the issues of pruning, spray requirements etc 
> for multi-grafted trees. There is no or very little information given on 
> rusticity, care etc with these trees, especially from the large surface 
> retailers.
> 
> I am all for experimenting and pushing the limits with fruit growing and 
> I know that multi-grafted trees can serve a purpose, However I just 
> think that Joe Public has no idea what they are getting themselves in 
> for, and people are exploiting the concept of a perfect tree to a 
> somewhat ignorant consumer base.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Caren Kirk
> St. Jerome, QC
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