Really cheap fruit trees and the garden economy – make your own by grafting

foreign_correspondent

I dont know, but I would like to find out!

davemorton

There was a very long, but informative thread on here a few weeks ago about grafting. Should only be a few pages back.

ixwood

I think this is the thread:-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1665319

Ask on there if you don't have any luck.

Penelope_Penguin

ixwood wrote: »

I think this is the thread:-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1665319

Ask on there if you don't have any luck.

Thanks for that - I wasn't having much luck searching We're planning moving in about 5 years' time and DH would like to graft 2 of our old apple trees, to take with us. One is a delicious cooker. It has a thick waxy skin, on large fruit, and they're still good to eat now :j

I'll add this to the thread you quote to keep ideas together.

Penny. x

marrbett

Sorry if this is hi-hacking the thread, but it is tree related and possibly grafting too!! My son grew a tree from an apple seed more than about 10 years ago and it is about 5'8" high. We've never had any flowers (or fruit) from it. I understand that we would only get crab apples from it, but am now wondering if we won't ever get even those? Shouldn't it have produced by now, and why wouldn't a tree bear any fruit. Is there any point considering a graft as we have grown rather fond of the tree and my son would love for something to grow!!!
Thanks for any help.

Martin_Knott-Lewis

Hello again,

I asked a few questions a few posts back. My post was moved to this thread but I haven't had an answer.

Could someone please help?

Also, Rosie383 asked a question and it wasn't answered and I'd be interested too.

I'm not sure I could try this grafting technique. Could I find someone to do it for me? I especially want the same apples as on the old trees, one of which is starting to die so I don't have much time.

I should add I'm a newbie to all this!

Patchwork_Quilt

Hi Martin

Not sure about grafting but you may like to know that I had to take a branch off a plum tree I was bringing home so I put it in a pot with some of the clay/compost from the bottom of my garden and it's still alive. I stripped off all but the top 4 leaves and buried the stem nearly all the way to the top. I'm hoping it's making roots but to be honest, I had nothing to lose.

Why not try it with a non-fruiting twig from your apple tree? Mine was about eight inches long. You can try the grafting stuff as well when you get a reply

RAS

martin

rosie's query was answered here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1731673

With respect to your own, I will be getting any stocks through the Northern Fruit Group. At £5 for membership this year, it is a bargain. Plus 80-£1.30 per root-stock. if you live up north, check out their budding workshops later in the summer. You could have a functional tree by next spring.

Yes I am a member but only a new one with no vested interest.

You can certainly graft two or more varieties onto one stock. I tried and failed with a root stock that had three branches but my failure was because I waited until I had several scions together and the scion wood was "old". The stock is still alive an will be re-grafted next spring.

RAS

marrbett wrote: »

Sorry if this is hi-hacking the thread, but it is tree related and possibly grafting too!! My son grew a tree from an apple seed more than about 10 years ago and it is about 5'8" high. We've never had any flowers (or fruit) from it. I understand that we would only get crab apples from it, but am now wondering if we won't ever get even those? Shouldn't it have produced by now, and why wouldn't a tree bear any fruit. Is there any point considering a graft as we have grown rather fond of the tree and my son would love for something to grow!!!
Thanks for any help.

Hi

Every single famous apple started as an apple seed that someone planted. Until it fruits you have no way of knowing whether it will be a crab or the next best thing.

Just naturally, it takes ten years or more for an apple tree to start fruiting. If you graft wood from the tree onto an early fruiting stock, it fruits about two years after grafting.

The other things that might affect your tree that i can think of right now are:

1. Your are on chalk or limestone?
2. If you have not fed your tree, then make up some tomato fertiliser and add that to the tree.
3. Some trees do not like competition, what do you grow below your fruit tree?
4. Are you pruning the tree? If not, reducing the new wood by one third might induce it to flower.

marrbett

RAS wrote: »

Hi

Every single famous apple started as an apple seed that someone planted. Until it fruits you have no way of knowing whether it will be a crab or the next best thing.

Just naturally, it takes ten years or more for an apple tree to start fruiting. If you graft wood from the tree onto an early fruiting stock, it fruits about two years after grafting.

The other things that might affect your tree that i can think of right now are:

1. Your are on chalk or limestone?
2. If you have not fed your tree, then make up some tomato fertiliser and add that to the tree.
3. Some trees do not like competition, what do you grow below your fruit tree?
4. Are you pruning the tree? If not, reducing the new wood by one third might induce it to flower.

What a really helpful reply, thankyou so much.
I will feed the tree and clear the plants (weeds!!) around it, and will prune it (I guess I wait to do that?)
No chalk or limestone soil in our garden.
Most of all , I'll be more patient and not give up on the tree!! My son says Thanks.