Besides starting a new tree, scionwood can be used for
changing the variety of an old tree, a process called topworking.
This is often used in older apple orchards of Red Delicious to switch
them over to a more trendy variety such as Fuji. On established
trees it is much faster than planting new trees and waiting for them to
bear fruit, as the topworked trees have massive root systems that will
grow out branches and fruit the next year.
Question: What about multi-graft trees, or
4-in-1 that have multiple varieties grafted onto one tree?
Unfortunately in Southern California we have not had
good success with multi-grafted trees. The varieties better suited
to our climate blossom earlier and seem to divert the tree's energy at
the expense of the other varieties. The branch of that variety
grows rapidly while the others have little to no growth at all.
Other so-called "high chill" varieties will not
blossom or fruit when used on a multi-graft, but fruit just fine when
grafted onto their own dwarfing rootstock. This is too bad, as a
multi-graft tree is a big space saver if you're wanting to have a lot of
different varieties.
All is not lost however, as apple trees can be planted
close together, and there are methods to cram a lot of apple trees into
a little space. We suggest you see our espalier page and consider
a Belgian Fence, which is quite ornamental and functional besides
producing a lot of different apples.
We stock over 90 varieties of scionwood that comes in
two 8" sticks that will make up to four grafts. Scionwood is
available February through the end of April. Our book
Growing Apples in the
City can show you how to graft scionwood.
Click to see our Available
Scionwood Variety List
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Apple Nursery page
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