Duel fruit trees

[vwilson]

I was just on the J Parker website looking for apple trees and came across a tree with 2 varieties on it, and just wondered if anyone has tried them. One Bush with 2 different types of apple, would be idea so I have twice the fruit with half the space. Thoughts please..My garden angels

[vicky]

I have an espalier apple tree with 3 varieties grafted onto it (think it was from Deacon's nursery, they're called Jenny trees after his daughter which I thought was sweet!). It's only been in 4 years and I have been more concerned with shape than fruit but last years I got fruit from 2 varieties.
It seems a great idea if you have limited space
I would tend to say I don't think mine is as vigorous as if it was just the one variety, but that may just be my particular tree/situation/me! I haven't had any specific problems and it is self pollinating!
It was quite expensive too £30-40 I think, a moving in pressie to ourselves!
Will watch for other replies with interest!

[Iaind4]

I bought three type from J Parkers dual apple, dual pear and dual cherry.
Only planted this year so hope they will do well as i have limited space for any thing bigger.Will let you know how they do.

[smallblueplanet]

We bought the dual plum two springs ago, its growing well but one variety is much more vigorous than the other. Might have to consider pruning the bigger variety to give the other space. But not until June. Not had any fruit yet, not even any blossom!

[Snadger]

I was just on the J Parker website looking for apple trees and came across a tree with 2 varieties on it, and just wondered if anyone has tried them. One Bush with 2 different types of apple, would be idea so I have twice the fruit with half the space. Thoughts please..My garden angels

You won't have twice the fruit, in fact your total amount of fruit may be less than if you had one single tree.
The dealings I've had with dual apples and dual pears have proved to me they are less fruitful than a single variety. This was some years ago so maybe they have perfected them now.
As has already bean mentioned, usually one of the grafts is more vigourous than the other and if not pruned the dominant one will take over.

[allotmentlady]

Dont they sometimes get called a family tree>? I have one that produces, plum, apple and pear!

[veg4681]

I have one that produces, plum, apple and pear!

Really? Wow! I have heard of it but didn't quite want to believe. But has it produced all three different fruits successfully?

BTW I also planted a dual pear from J Parker last Autumn so watch this space. Maybe one variety will take over as reported in above posts.

[allotmentlady]

Yes not a problem veg4681, our local nursery sells them but i think we got this one form a garden centre in Rochdale, will send piccies of it once its starts fruiting lol

[seasprout]

Genuinely nosey

How is everybody getting on with their dual trees..??

Worth it you think...?

[smallblueplanet]

Not a sausage, not a blossom....and we've had to heavily prune one side, to stop it overwhelming the other.

[carlseawolf]

I got a duel apple and pear from j parker and the apple is about 3 years old and has been producing fruit for 2 of them , the pear was put in last year and is growing well but no blossom this year .
I will be getting a plum and cherry this year to train against wires at the ends of my beds.
The only duo i've heard that can be hit and miss is the plums but that could be individual planting tecniques

[JILLY JACKSON]

we've one which they called a family tree,it is about fifteen years old now and now only produces one kind of apple instead of the three .I must say though that this year the fruit is much better than it ever has been.

[southlondongardener]

I got a family tree (Jester, Fiesta and Jupiter). from Deacon's last year - no fruit last year but some this year.
I think you can get more fruit this way as in bad years for variety x you still get variety y.

I am very happy with it so far.

[seasprout]

Dual trees.

I'm still planning to get one of these dual types this coming Autumn, just wondered how peoples trees are fairing now another season has gone by.

I'm after an eater and a cooker if possible.

OR should i get one of those Minaret types that grow like a pillar with one variety..?? oh decisions..!!

[BFG]

I got 4 quad family trees from deacons last autumn and they've all been covered in blossom for weeks now. I'm begrudgingly going to remove most of the fruit when it forms, but they've done really well so far.